Erada is the center for the treatment of drug addicts and psychotropic substances. Law No. 5 of 2019 (the ‘Law’) is issued to regulate the rehabilitation of substance and alcohol abuse in the Emirate of Dubai.
The Law will apply to all activities of the Erada Center for Treatment and Rehab, which will replace the Law No. (5) of 2016 and further extended the scope of services to residents, at the discretion of council along with UAE nationals.
Pursuant to this law, Erada aims to provide the treatment and rehabilitation to addicts, encourage people who suffer from addiction to enroll themselves in the center and prepare them to recover and restore with the society by providing a set of programs and environment in coordination with governing authorities.
The law will govern the processes of admission and discharge from the center. Admissions can be approved by the Public Prosecutor, or either the center or the concerned judicial authority, subject to a notification sent to the public prosecutor. Addicts can also be admitted through a court ruling or a decision of the Attorney General of Dubai.
The person can be discharged in case of court decision; however, the duration of admission should not exceed two years. It further states that no prosecution will be taken against addicts who follows the treatment. In case an addict does not follow the treatment or caught with drugs in the rehab premises, the Center should ask the judicial authority and the public prosecution to decide on the course of action.
Apart from receiving medical and psychological treatment, the person admitted has the right to privacy and to communicate with his family. No one can review data or information of the person, except having a written approval by virtue of an order of the Dubai Public Prosecution, a court ruling, or a request from a government entity tasked with taking care of them after their discharge from the Center.
This law has taken effect from the day of publishing in the Official Gazette on 17/09/2019.
