We are a confidential Private Service supporting and treating people who want to change the way they are using recreational/illicit drugs and alcohol.

The Substance Misuse Clinic was initially founded in 1990, and revived in 2021 after Professor Karim decided to return to his roots, in Lahore Pakistan.

Dr. Karim is an internationally recognised psychiatrist and has worked both in England and Pakistan. He has around 40 years of experience in psychiatry and addiction disorders. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists from the United Kingdom and engages in teaching, training professionals and treatment of individual psychiatric disorders, across the globe

 Organizational Values

Care competence, compassion with a zero-harm policy.

Operational Values of the organization

Centre on patient carer feedback and quality assessment /improvement is embedded in the service culture.

Confidentiality

Our service is highly confidential and operates on a minimal or zero harm policy

FOCUS OF THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE

Our service focuses on identifying problems and treatment of drugs/substances including Drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons.

Established and emerging ‘club drugs’

 Including ketamine, Cocaine methamphetamine, GHB/GBL, synthetic stimulants, heroin hallucinogens, magic mushrooms Ephedrine, MMDA. Ice, Crystal meth, amphetamines Cannabis, skunk and genetically modified cannabis.

Multiple substance misuse including

• Cannabis.

• Alcohol dependency

• Dependence of Prescription medications, benzodiazepine like Xanax.  Lexotonil Valium. Alp Etc.

• Prescription medication misuse including cognition enhancers. Morphine and opioid derivatives based pain killers, Lyrica, gabalin and pregabalin

• Smoking cessation

• In addition, we have excellent experience in the following

• Drug facilitated sexual behaviours (‘chemsex’)

• Dual diagnosis.

• Mental illness related with use of illicit substances. Drug induced psychosis bipolar affective disorders, depression and geneliased anxiety disorders and social phobias

• Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)

Clinical Services

Treatment is initiated by a  The multi-disciplinary team under the auspicious leadership of Professor Dr Raheel Karim, highly experienced psychiatrist  with 40 years of experience in treating highly complex cases who may or may not have had successful treatments elsewhere.

The treatment is conducted in a calm serene secure environment with high levels of confidentiality maintained at all times.

The team incudes clinical psychologist, highly trained nurses and supporting staff.

We work intensively with a small caseload leading to excellent results.

The service works both with people wanting complete abstinence and those who want to cut down and use more safely.

Treatment strategies include NICE and FDA approved intervention protocols with Emphasis on relapse prevention, motivational interviewing and medically assisted detoxification.

We regularly host patient placements from all over Pakistan, India, Canada, America, UK, European Union and internationally.

 This service is especially designed for expats who do not wish to seek treatment in their native countries.

We offer private services, including aftercare support, psychology sessions, psychiatric assessments and treatment both on an outdoor basis as well as inpatient services through admission to our exclusive facilities in Lahore Pakistan in a discrete home like environment.

We take pride on providing a high-end, holistic, and a bespoke service tailored to the needs of patients and carers which includes, quality pharmacological therapy, focus on the individual’s physical health problems individual /group therapy services, family therapy and customised services tailored to the need of the individual both within the detox period and rehabilitation.

Our focus is also on providing carer’s who wish to seek advice on how to manage their loved ones in difficulty as an individual is a product of a family.

HOW WE WORK

We offer non-judgemental support, treatment and advice to help you and your loved ones to deal with problems you are experiencing with drugs both as an inpatient and outpatient basis.

 We are very mindful that individuals using substances and alcohol are more likely to be suffering from underlying mental health problems. (DUAL DIAGNOSIS) and they are in a way self-medicating. They are attempting to treat themselves from underlying illnesses like phobias, anxiety, depression, bipolar illnesses and psychosis.

 We also assess your personality formally and coping strategies in order to identify the personality traits that may be responsible for the underlying dependence issues.  Anger issues, blame and trust issues are also dealt with

We aim to help you reduce the risks and harm caused to your body, mind and the people around you.

 PATHWAY TO CARE

When we first meet, we will ask you what help you would like. Although many people coming to the service want to stop using drugs, we also work with people who want to cut back and use substances more safely.

Agreeing initial goals both with carers and individuals are really important, as they often conflict with each other because we can then decide how to best to provide you with the services that you might need.

You may find that your goals change as you regain control over drugs, so we will keep checking with you to make sure we are offering the right kind of service and ongoing treatment and support.

 Our substance misuse Clinic has expert knowledge of all types of club drugs, and in particular individual suffering from alcohol dependency so whatever the problem, we can help you achieve your goals.

The  Drug and alcohol Clinic has extensive experience in working with all communities, without any genders bias ethnicity or race and has genuine cultural competence in dealing with the drug and alcohol addiction issues that occur within these communities, including providing assessment and help with sexual health.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US?

We routinely ask people coming to our service whether if they would recommend us to a friend or family member. 98% say yes, they would.

 A real-life case scenario and the feedback we have received:

“My life was a total mess before I accessed the service with Dr. Karim and his team. I was using cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and smoking excessively.

I was taking alcohol in large amounts, then  felt low , and then would take a few lines of cocaine to make me high, this wold continue till  the small hours of the morning. I wold then take cannabis and go off to sleep, Sometimes followed by sleeping tablets. I would feel miserable in the morning/

 One day I became paranoid and suspicious as I went to the bathroom and I was convinced that people were watching me, and that cameras had been installed in the bathroom. I became so scared that I Left the bathroom undressed to call the police to check for bugs in the house.

  I was struggling to make sense of things and looking for answers in all the wrong places.

Cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol had completely overtaken my life. It was not fun anymore and I was not really enjoying these drugs any more, my life was completely ruined by my drug seeking behaviour.

My family was very unhappy, my wife and children were suffering, my work and finances were in taters, and my relationship with my parents had deteriorated.

I was at the brink of emotional and financial bankruptcy and my life was centred on obtaining cocaine, telling lies and embezzling funds

 My physical health became very poor.

  I was taken by my family to virtually all drug rehabilitation clinics in Lahore with no success, till my family found Professor Karim, recommended by a family friend.   

With a combination of counselling, advice initially done remotely and then I got admitted to his inpatient service which was a place of safety for me, I could talk openly and honestly about things.

 I began to imagine a life without drugs. It wasn't easy at all, but I got there in the end.

  I was dreading withdrawals symptoms, but reflecting on my experience it was painless.  Dr Karim and his team went through the treatment options with me in detail and addressed all my withdrawal symptoms in a highly professional manner. 

I don’t believe I would have made it through without the expertise of Professor Karim and his team”

“The team have gone above and beyond to support me”

“By  respecting me as an individual, listening to me when I said that the drugs themselves were only part of the problem, the  team, provided me with the support I needed to address  all round issues of my life and I cannot thank them enough,

To top it all Dr Karim was always there for me and supported me to the journey of my recovery all the way”

 “I was able to talk and express myself completely openly without feeling judged or misunderstood”

“I think this service is a special service and I found every member of staff to be so kind, empathic and helpful”

“They did not identify me by my illness but as a person suffering from a particular illness”

Right from the outset it was realised that the burden of care and the turmoil that I had created within my family needed to be addressed, therefore involving my family and addressing their concerns were an integral part of the treatment

My physical health issues and liver problems were addressed and rectified by a thorough assessment by a professionally qualified physician with regular testing.

“I owe my life to you, thank you for being there Dr Karim”

 HOW TO GET HELP

 We offer face-to-face appointments and also offer remote video or telephone appointments.

• We can then talk through the problem and see how we can help.

If you would like to discuss a clinical case form a carer or an individual’s perspective, or seeking confidential advice then please contact us by arranging an appointment with the Medical Director of Services Professor Dr. Raheel Karim

We thank you for reading this “ Remember there is no health without mental health"