Eunpyeong Hospital "Seoul Drug Management Center"
Comprehensive Support for Addiction Counseling, Hospitalization, and Rehabilitation
The Seoul Metropolitan Government, which has declared a "war on drugs," has opened a "Drug Management Center." This is an integrated hospital focused on the early detection and treatment of drug users.
On October 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had completed the pilot operation of the "Seoul Drug Management Center" within Eunpyeong Hospital and that the center would officially open on October 31.
The Seoul Drug Management Center has established a continuous treatment system that includes counseling and examinations by specialized medical staff, as well as hospitalization, rehabilitation, and aftercare. This approach not only supports drug cessation but also helps patients reintegrate into society in a healthy manner.
Led by Center Director Cho Seongnam, who has 37 years of experience in drug treatment, the center is staffed by 34 professionals, including two psychiatrists, a mental health social worker, a clinical psychologist, an occupational therapist, a psychiatric nurse, and ward care staff.
The center covers a total area of 1,900 square meters, with separate inpatient and outpatient departments to enable integrated treatment and rehabilitation for drug addiction in one location. Gender-segregated closed wards are operated to ensure maximum safety. In addition, the latest medical equipment, such as the LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), has been introduced to precisely analyze up to 23 types of drugs.
To enhance treatment effectiveness, the center operates specialized clinics and personalized programs for different groups, such as adolescents and women. The adolescent clinic diagnoses and treats the causes of addiction and secondary issues at an early stage. Customized education, treatment, and rehabilitation programs tailored to the route of administration and drug characteristics are provided to prevent repeated use.
The women’s clinic offers combined psychological and medical support programs, considering the high incidence of dual diagnoses such as trauma or sexual assault. In addition, patients with severe cravings and withdrawal symptoms undergo detoxification within the ward, and individualized treatment programs are provided according to the severity of addiction.
An "Addiction Counseling Room" is also operated to support safe reintegration into society and sustained drug abstinence. Through the main phone number of Eunpyeong Hospital, a psychiatric nurse is available to assist with simple screenings, such as checking for symptoms of drug use.
The center plans to establish a sustainable system for the early detection and treatment of drug users in cooperation with related organizations. In collaboration with the police, treatment intervention is possible from the investigation stage. The center is also linked with 34 Seoul-supported drug addiction treatment institutions (Donghaeng Clinics) and three private institutions operating rehabilitation programs, providing drug counseling, self-help groups, and motivation enhancement programs for drug cessation.
Park Yumi, Director of Eunpyeong Hospital, stated, "Drug issues are no longer just an individual’s problem but a serious issue for society as a whole. Through the Drug Management Center, we will ensure that no addict is left untreated, and by providing continuous treatment and rehabilitation support, we will increase the success rate of drug cessation and help patients return to society in good health."
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