There are not enough therapeutic frameworks for addictions in Israel: Which sector suffers the most?

There are not enough therapeutic frameworks for addictions in Israel: Which sector suffers the most? [ad_1]

A review by the Knesset Research and Information Center shows that a lack of defined criteria leads to large gaps in the geographical distribution of addiction treatment centers. Most of the centers operating today were opened many years ago in accordance with the need that arose from the field based on the information on drug use in certain areas, leading to a shortage in other areas and among designated sectors.Another critical statistic that emerges is that the bodies involved in the treatment of people suffering from addictions do not have complete data on all those suffering from addictions in Israel. This is why it is not possible to learn about the scope of needs in the field versus the scope of the existing response. The document was written by Yonath Meisel at the request of MK Walid Taha, and presents in detail the centers for the treatment of addictions under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, with an emphasis on their geographical distribution.

Lack of hospitalization frameworks for women and ultra-Orthodox

Addiction is a state of physical and mental dependence on psychoactive substances, such as alcohol or drugs or certain behavior (gambling). According to the Ministry of Welfare’s addiction treatment service, the number of people suffering from addiction in Israel is about 120,000, of whom less than one-fifth receive treatment for the addiction problem in the health and welfare services, ie, less than 16,000 patients.

As for the centers that are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, the report deals extensively with hospitalizations, internal frameworks that include accommodation. According to the Ministry of Health, it is necessary to add at least 60 beds in public hospitals, which means that it is necessary to increase the number of these beds by about 24%.

Some of the hospitalizations offer solutions tailored to different populations. For example, the hospital in Tamra offers culturally adapted responses to the Arab population; Two hospitalizations – in Beit Shemesh and Malchishua – are intended for the treatment of the population of adolescents and young people with gender segregation; There are hospitalizations that address women in prostitution and the transgender population; And the hospital in Bnei Zion offers a solution to street children. It appears that there is a shortage of hospitalization for women in the center of the country, as well as a shortage of tailored response to the ultra-Orthodox population and young Arab adolescents.

There are 12 clinics in Israel for the treatment of prescription drug addiction, but in the entire northern district and in the Judea and Samaria area there are no clinics for the treatment of prescription drugs for pain, as well as south of the city of Beer Sheva.

Lack of post-weaning rehabilitation frameworks

At the end of the physical detoxification and medical treatment of addiction, the phase of psychosocial treatment and rehabilitation begins, which is the responsibility of the Addiction Treatment Service at the Ministry of Welfare. The number of treatment frameworks is 383, and most of them provide a combined solution for drug addicts, alcohol addicts and gambling addicts.

In Israel, there are 74 outpatient units for the treatment of adolescents on a series of addictions that deal with the detection, treatment and rehabilitation of adolescents. In 2020, 1,197 youths were treated in these units. The largest number of units is in the Southern District (17) and the lowest number of units in the Jerusalem District (3). However, in the Jerusalem District the average number of patients per unit is the highest of all the districts. According to the Ministry of Welfare, there are 40 outpatient units for the treatment of youth throughout the country, which means that the number of existing units needs to be increased by 54%. Of the 40 missing units, 17 are missing in the Southern District.

In addition, there are 97 units for the care of adults, in which approximately 2,200 patients were treated in 2020. In this case, too, the largest number of units is in the Northern District (27) and the smallest in the Jerusalem District (3). According to the Ministry of Welfare, 56 adult care units are missing, an increase of 50% compared to existing units, of which 22 are missing in the Southern District.

According to the Ministry of Welfare, all areas in Israel lack outpatient and outpatient treatment frameworks. In 71 authorities (about 28% of the authorities in Israel) there is a problem of the availability of frameworks for the treatment of addictions, and about a fifth of them are Arab authorities (21%).

Data from the Ministry of Welfare show that in Israel there are 24 out-of-home frameworks for social or integrated care, of which 14 are therapeutic communities and 10 are hostels. In 2020, 1,216 patients were treated in about 24 frameworks, and it is necessary to open an additional 22 frameworks (92%) on the number of existing frameworks.

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