Pafos Live 19 December 2023
Twelve-year-old children are asking for support from the Tolmi Association in Paphos, said the president of the Tolmi Open Therapy Centre for Addicted People in Paphos, Elena Christoforou in the context of a Christmas event of love organized by the Tolmi Association of Pafos.
In her address, the president of the Association Tolmi Pafos, Elena Christoforou said that in the last two years that she represents Tolmi Pafos as president, statistics show that those involved in addictions are increasing dramatically, adding that every year younger children apply for support.
Indicatively, Ms. Christoforou said that in the year 2023 12-year-olds had asked for help. She added that Tolmi Pafos, with the scientific support of Kennethea, which is the only Association licensed by the Addictions Authority, is staffed by a clinically registered counselling psychologist, who works part-time as the Association is unable financially to cover full-time employment despite the fact that the needs are huge.
He also works with a psychologist, psychotherapist, as she said, whenever they present themselves through the purchase of services. At the same time, she continued, Tolmi Pafos has a collaboration with Neapolis University where postgraduate students of counselling psychology provide counselling services in the context of their own practice and are supervised by the scientific staff of Tolmi.
She also said that wage-only expenses are constantly increasing due to the huge number of addicts who seek psychological support and immediate intervention and help both for themselves and their families. Each case needs the utmost confidentiality in a familiar environment, she added and finally called on everyone to reflect on our children, who are our lives.
In her short greeting, the District Officer of Pafos, Mary Lambrou, thanked the Courage Association for the invitation to attend the event and congratulated the President and Members of the Council for their activity. She then referred to the services they offer to addicts and their families on a pro bono and confidential basis. She added that as parents, education, church and society in general, we must contribute to tackling the drug phenomenon, which unfortunately shows a worrying trend. The Association cooperates with KENTHEA and other bodies and our assistance is important, she concluded.
Moreover, the Mayor of Pafos, Phedon Phedonos, referred to the seriousness of the scourge of drugs. Mr. Phedonos said that an analysis was carried out on wastewater ending up in the Biological Unit of SAPA, noting that based on the analysis carried out, in the context of wastewater treatment in Limassol, Larnaka, Famagusta and Paphos, the highest residue in narcotic substances in wastewater, i.e. he explained urine sent for treatment to the sewerage system of Pafos, is the district of Pafos.
Mr. Phedonos issued a distress signal, noting that there is a drug sales station, mainly crystal, in the tourist village of Agios Antonios but also in the parish of Anavargo, adding that the police are dealing but not as much as they should.
This was followed by an artistic program by children and dance and gymnastics demonstrations.
