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Judicial report highlights importance of treating drug addicts

Abu Dhabi - The publication aims at increasing legal awareness in society

A judicial magazine published from Abu Dhabi has highlighted the importance of treating drug addicts so that they reform and become responsible citizens.
The Center for Judicial Research and Studies at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) on Tuesday launched the third edition of their scientific journal Judiciary and the Law, which focuses on research about the country's legal system and the impact of laws.
The publication aims at increasing the level of legal awareness in society and promote the culture of law abidance among people.
Dr Jabbar Al Hussein, director of the Center for Judicial Research and Studies at the ADJD, said: "The third issue of the Judiciary and Law magazine. has a significant impact on the national arena in the field of legal research.
"The magazine has become a systematic tool to promote research in the judicial fields. The results and recommendations of the magazine have formed important insights in order to deepen legal concepts and develop legal services to meet the highest international standards."
Among the major research topics highlighted in the magazine included, the importance of adding the treatment of addicts to the UAE legislation, the legal protection of the integrity of public offices, a comparative study on the legal protection of family and the impact of applying statistical science in the work of the courts.
The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had approved changes to the original law from 1995, in October 2016. Under the new law, the Attorney General has the power to send an offender to a rehabilitation centre for treatment without the case going to court, after getting advice from the police and public prosecutions.
The public prosecution in Abu Dhabi said in November last year that since the new law's introduction, they have received more than 100 such cases of families seeking treatment for their family members suffering from addiction problems.
According to the latest figures released in November by the judicial authorities, the number of drug addicts sent to rehabilitation centres in Abu Dhabi has increased from 61 cases in the years 2015 -2016 to 117 in 2016-2017.
Mohammed Rashid Al Dhanhani, head of Bani Yas prosecution said: "Sending drug addicts to rehabilitation centres for treatment and help them quit drugs is more significant than making them spend many years in jail and away from their families.
"Jailing someone for long doesn't necessary mean they have quit drugs. But sending them to rehab can can treat and reform them, helping them become responsible members of the community."
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi