ABU DHABI, 23rd March, 2023 (WAM) – The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi has achieved a scientific milestone for the second consecutive time in the Middle East, Africa, and the Gulf region. The centre has been granted an accredited certification from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna as a "Participant and Collaborative Centre". This certification was awarded to the NRC for its expertise in identifying chemical changes in modern drug composition and its ability to develop accurate and sensitive methods to detect traditional, manufactured, and modern narcotics drugs.
The NRC's Clinical Toxicology Laboratory has been deemed a highly qualified centre for qualitative and quantitative testing of drugs and narcotic substances in biological samples after passing all the tests and eligibility requirements. The Centre began its preparations for the certification in 2018 when it met with officials from the UNODC in Vienna during the Centre's annual participation in the meetings of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
To obtain the certification of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as a "Successful and Collaborative Participant Centre," the aspiring institute must participate in four consecutive courses in two cycles a year. The participants need to receive samples of unknown materials and analyse them to detect and recognise unknown component substances. The results must then be sent to the United Nations Office in Vienna for comparison and correction to determine the accuracy, quality, and efficiency of the devices and methods used in extracting and analysing narcotic substances and toxins in the unknown and seized samples.
The programme requires a full two-year participation period, during which participants must satisfy all requirements of the relevant authorities to pass the test and receive certification from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as a "Participant and Collaborative Centre" through its global programme.
In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the NRC as a collaborative centre for the prevention and treatment of disorders resulting from the use of psychotropic substances, making it the first addiction treatment centre in the UAE to receive this designation in the Middle East.
This recognition has further strengthened the NRC's position as a leading centre for addiction prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation both regionally and globally.
Dr. Aref Al Shehhi, CEO of NRC, expressed his pride in the Centre's accomplishment, saying, "This outstanding achievement solidifies the UAE's prominent status and puts the emirate of Abu Dhabi at the forefront of the Middle East. We are grateful for the support of our wise leadership and their guidance, which has enabled us to compete regionally and globally."
He went on to highlight the NRC's efforts to combat addiction and promote mental health, noting that the Centre's innovative programmes and plans have raised community awareness of the dangers of drugs and achieved advanced levels comparable to the most prestigious international institutions. These efforts, he added, are complemented by the development of treatment services, studies, and scientific research to achieve the Centre's operational objectives.
"The NRC has always demonstrated its regional status as a leading centre in the delivery of addiction prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services," Dr. Al Shehhi emphasised. "Furthermore, the Centre has set new benchmarks in providing treatment, rehabilitation, and training services through adopting effective and scientifically-proven methods in treating addiction."
He concluded by stating that the certification by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime validates the Centre's outstanding services to the local community and raises its profile at a global level. This achievement, he said, is an incentive for the Centre to continue its journey towards more national gains in the field of addiction control and treatment.