Adolescent drug addicts will finally be given the specialised support they need through a tailored rehabilitation programme to be set up by the end of the year, Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said.

The plan is to offer a “mix of services” that will include community-based programmes and a residential service.

The community programme would ensure that drug users under 18 can continue living at home while receiving professional guidance through the rehabilitation programme.

For the more serious cases, a residential programme will cater for the particular needs of these youngsters, who will be divided into two groups  those under 14 and those between 14 and 18.

Apart from drug rehabilitation and psychological services, the residential programme will include an educational aspect that would also be tailored according to the individual’s needs and interests, he said.

A place in need of some refurbishment was identified, but the minister preferred not to disclose further details before things were finalised.

Dr Farrugia was speaking to Times of Malta after addressing a conference on drug policy organised by ECAD, a network of European cities and municipalities.

During his address Dr Farrugia said the new drug law was enacted on April 15, putting more emphasis on rehabilitation as opposed to incarceration.

“Malta’s drugs policy is based on the provision of prevention services, treatment and care, harm reduction measures as well as efforts to reduce the supply of drugs and drug-related crime,” he said, adding there was a general lack of aftercare services for drug users, which had to be addressed.

But when it came to services for young people under 18 there was a huge gap.

“For the last 20-25 years drug victims at the tender age of 12 years have been identified, but in spite of this no proper rehabilitation service has been set up to cure children and adolescents victim to drugs. This is unacceptable,” he told the conference.

This problem was flagged in February during a conference on drugs, also organised by the Swieqi local council. Experts warned about the “gaping hole” in social services due to the lack of facilities to cater for the “worrying new increase” in drug addicts as young as 12.

Two days ago The Sunday Times of Malta reported the story of a 38-year-old woman whose 14-year-old son has been taking synthetic drugs like ecstasy for the past two years. The single mother, who has five other children, called on the authorities to set up rehabilitation services for adolescents as she needed help to control her son.

She said that when her son took drugs he beat up his three younger siblings – aged 13, 12 and 10.

The teen had spent some time in a residential home for children with behavioural problems but the home did not accept him back after he ran away, as the responsibility was too much to handle.

Dr Farrugia said he knew that the woman had tried to help her son but did not find the necessary support. “The State has failed that family,” he said.