The program aims to accommodate around 20 middle and high school students grappling with drug addiction. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Mar. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bid to help teenagers with drug addiction recover their daily lives and foster self-reliance, the South Korean government plans to pilot the country’s first residential treatment camps in the latter half of this year.
According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the state-run Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute will operate an 11-day, overnight healing camp at a government facility in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The program aims to accommodate around 20 middle and high school students grappling with drug addiction.
While a trial run took place last year, this marks the official launch of such a long-term, residential initiative targeting youth substance abuse.
The institute recently concluded discussions with the Gyeonggi branch of the Korean Association Against Drug Abuse to finalize the educational program. It is now coordinating participant recruitment procedures and staffing for the camp’s operations.
The camps will cater to teenagers hooked on prescription drug abuse, including the appetite suppressant phentermine, known as the “butterfly drug”; the opioid painkiller fentanyl patches; and methylphenidate, primarily used to treat ADHD. School dropouts within the targeted age group are also eligible.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 5,287 teens aged 13 to 19 were prescribed phentermine in 2022, while 383 received fentanyl patches. Methylphenidate prescriptions numbered over 41,000 for the same demographic.
The Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
Recognizing the prevailing social issues around underage drinking, the camps will also incorporate treatment for alcohol addiction.
While a youth-focused drug rehabilitation facility opened in Daejeon last year under the drug safety ministry’s guidance, the residential camp format is unprecedented, the gender equality ministry noted.
“The non-pharmacological treatment will primarily focus on cognitive behavioral therapy to help participants recognize their addictive state,” a government official explained.
A ministry representative stressed the importance of securing participants, saying, “We’re collaborating with agencies like the police, prosecution, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to identify eligible youth. Post-discharge, we plan to provide up to six months of follow-up care and are also considering specialized drug treatment facilities long-term.”
The camps aim to rehabilitate teenagers ensnared in prescription drug abuse by fostering self-awareness and equipping them with coping strategies within a supportive residential setting. As youth substance issues gain prominence, the initiative signals the government’s commitment to tackling the challenge through comprehensive intervention.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
