President Shimon Peres was in the Negev on Sunday morning to inaugurate southern Israel's first addiction rehabilitation center. The Ruach Hamidbar (lit. “Desert Spirit” or "Desert Wind") facility is located in Ramat Hanegev.
Peres spoke of society's obligation to those suffering addictions. “Many people are in trouble... Israeli society has an obligation to help these people, who were active members of society and have the ability to be active members of society once again – healthy and clean from drugs – who currently do not know how to save themselves from their addictions.”
The new facility “will truly save lives,” he added. The center will focus on helping addicts who have already gone through an initial withdrawal process to fully rebuild their lives and return to their communities.
The center cost 60 million shekels, and will employ dozens of residents of the Negev. Approximately 200 people are expected to be treated by the program each year.
Ruach Hamidbar will not only fill a gap in society's care for addicts, but will also play a part in the development of the Negev, Peres declared. “Ben-Gurion gave us a dream about the Negev, and it gives us no rest to this day, it sets us a course of action,” he said.
“The Negev is flourishing too slowly, I would like to see the Negev develop more quickly, at least as quickly as other parts of the land,” he continued. The Ruach Hamidbar facility and similar projects are “steps in the right direction,” he added.