Filenews 9 April 2025
During the three-year period 2023-2025, a total of 70 minors were referred to treatment centers for rehabilitation from addictive substances.
For the year 2025, nine minors are currently hosted at the Inpatient Center in Latsia, with five of them expected to complete the program by the end of the summer.
According to data obtained by CNA from the Monitoring and Research Department of the Cyprus Addiction Treatment Authority (AAEK), in 2023 112 adults between 18 and 24 years old and 26 minors up to 18 years old were referred to treatment centers, while in 2024 92 adults and 29 minors were referred to treatment centers.
In terms of program completion, 16 adults completed the treatment in the years 2023 and 2024. Of the 26 minors referred in 2023, 11 completed the program, while in 2024, out of 29 minors, only five completed it. No data is yet available for 2025.
It is noteworthy that treatment requests for minors under the age of 18 increased in the three-year period 2021-2023, with 40 applications in 2021, 62 in 2022 and 48 in 2023. These applications are submitted either by families or by government agencies, such as the Welfare Office, the Police and the Courts.
The referrals concern both open therapeutic programs, which are mainly addressed to adults, and to the Internal Hospitalization Center, which exclusively accommodates minors up to 18 years of age, students or children outside the school context. The open programs operate in Nicosia ("Perseus"), Limassol ("Prometheus"), Larnaca ("Deciding Eighteen Down"), Paphos ("Boldi") and Famagusta ("Achilles").
The Inpatient Care Centre, under the direction of "Agia Skepi", has been operating since 2019 in Latsia, Nicosia.
Increased recognition and attendance at the program
The Director of the "Agia Skepi" Therapeutic Community and scientific director of the program, Tina Pavlou, told CNA that in recent years there has been an increasing number of referrals of minors. As he said, this is due to the growing recognition of the program, which has been operating for five years.
A high number of referrals from the Ministry of Welfare is observed, while the flow from the Welfare Office and from families remains stable. In addition, he noted an increase in referrals from the Courts, underlining that three of the nine minors currently hosted at the Center are there by court decision.
He also referred to the amended law of 2021, which allows the judicial referral of minors to Rehabilitation Centers. Prior to 2019, this law was essentially inactive due to a lack of corresponding infrastructure.
Stability in participation and progress in the programme
Mrs. Pavlou said that for 2025, six minors participate in the closed program and three in the reintegration stage. The program typically lasts from 6 to 9 months, although it may be customized according to the needs of the participants.
He admitted that there have been program interruptions in the past, but in the last two years there has been a decrease in both interruptions and relapses. As he said, this is common in new programs, until they gain the acceptance of families.
Regarding children who are interrupted, he said that the reintegration process is fast, especially for minors. "There are cases of relapse, but many children return to treatment," he explained.
Education and everyday life at the Center
Ms. Pavlou noted that most children study at home with teachers from the Ministry of Education. Some attended night school or joined the apprenticeship system, while in general an effort is made not to leave any child out of the educational context.
The daily program includes classes, recreational and artistic activities, as well as sports. On weekends, children participate in outings such as bowling, cinemas and cafes.
Individual, group and family psychotherapy sessions are also held, while within 3-4 months of therapy and teaching, children have the opportunity to return to school.
Mrs. Pavlou stressed that the success of the program depends on the cooperation of the wider system, noting that "Agia Skepi" could not have succeeded without the cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Police, the Welfare Services and the Ministry of Education.
In closing, he called on the families to seek help in a timely manner and pointed out the need for substantial support from the competent services, so that they can respond to the challenges.
