A lifeline for addicts at a time of crisis

By Alexandra Giannidi

Six years into a deep recession that has seen Greece slash its healthcare budget and society come under great pressure, those working at KETHEA, one of the country's biggest drug therapy networks, are being forced to deal with the fallout.

The devastating mix of cuts in state funding and a severe deterioration in the living standards of addicts has left them with plenty of work to do.

“KETHEA's work has increased during the crisis. The organization's responsibilities are bigger,” says KETHEA director Vassilis Gitakos.

KETHEA, the acronym for the Greek Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, was founded in 1983 and supports about 13,500 people (addicts and families) per year free of charge. It has more than 100 units around the country, including night units for those who work during the day, as well as units for teenagers and for prisoners.

Although Greece's financial crisis has been blamed for an increase in the number of drug addicts between 2009 and 2010, since 2011 their number has returned to pre-crisis levels, between 20,000 and 23,000 people, according to the Greek Documentation and Monitoring Center for Drugs (EKTEPN).

However, the crisis has had a serious effect on the lives of drug users as well as KETHEA's work load.

According to Gitakos, addicts are the least capable of dealing with the effects of the crisis, such as pay cuts and high unemployment, which is currently hovering around 27 percent.

He adds that homelessness among addicts has soared. Gitakos further notes that more addicts don't get enough food, more families are being destroyed as a result of addiction, while psychological problems and suicide attempts have increased and more are turning to crime.

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