Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 Source: New Vision (Uganda) Copyright: 2004 New Vision Contact: http://www.newvision.co.ug/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/522 Forum: http://www.newvision.co.ug/bulletinboard/ Author: Charles Ariko MEDICAL DOCTORS WARN UGANDANS, OFFICIALS OF HIGH HEROIN ADDICTIONS Kampala MENTAL patients who are being treated for narcotic drug addiction have revealed that drug dealers lure them with free initial doses that make them become addicted. Once they are addicted, they do not receive any more free doses, forcing them to spend whatever money they have or even steal in order to buy the drugs." The deputy director at Butabika Hospital, Dr. David Basangwa, said besides cases of abuse from marijuana, the hospital had recently noted an increase of patients admitted for abusing heroin. He said a person could become addicted to heroin after taking it only twice. He cautioned the youth against taking any narcotic substances just for 'fun' since they likely to develop serious health problems. "Some people, especially the youth start taking these drugs because of peer pressure. They have to be very careful because they may develop mental illness and end up here," Basangwa said. "It takes a minimum of 18 months to treat patients that have become addicted to drugs. When they are brought here, we admit them for an initial period of two weeks. After that, we continue with other treatments depending on the response of the individual patient," Basangwa said. He said lack of adequate legislation and enforcement was partly to blame for the increasing use of drugs, which are smuggled into the country. "It is only the Police and Ministry of Health that have been left to deal with this problem. There is need to establish a national body to control narcotics. The penalties given to people caught peddling these drugs are not punitive enough," Basangwa also said. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh