Press Release by the Ministry for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights: rehabilitation centre for adolescents in Tal-Ibwar to open shortly

Reference Number: PR211221

In the coming weeks the Tal-Ibwar Adolescent Drug Rehabilitation Centre. This shall be the first centre of its kind in this country and it shall welcome over 20 persons. Caritas shall be running this centre which shall be financed by Government through an investment of €4 million and a further one million in the coming year. 

The centre shall provide its services to young men and women and it shall offer an alternative to the Centre of Residential Restorative Services (CORRS)  for youths and  Mount Carmel Hospital. These services shall be available 24 hours a day and they shall be directed by a number of professionals. 

The Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon visited another Centre run by Caritas in Birkirkara which is also assisting adolescents with drug problems. This visit took place on Saturday 26th June which is also the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. 

Minister Falzon said that the nation believes that everyone has the right to a second chance, especially adolescents who are victims of drugs. The Minister stated that professionals working on this programme have received specialised training abroad in order to offer the best rehabilitation to these youths. 

The programme offered shall take place over the course of a year and has the aim to rebuild and give structure. and help these adolescents to  better understand what has driven them to their addiction. The following step would be that of reintegration into society.

Dr Daniel Mercieca, co-ordinator of the programme at Tal-Ibwar stated that thanks to this programme the root of the problem shall be addressed with the aim being that of helping youths take the best life decisions. He explained how this will be an innovative centre with modern academic, sports and craftsmanship. These facilities and activities serve the purpose of creating a natural high without the use of drugs.