28.4.2008
Zagreb, 28 April 2008 – Large Croatian companies T-Hrvatski Telekom, Europapress holding and Hrvatska radio-televizija, on the initiative of the Association Pet+, launched a charity campaign called “Ovisni o nama” for collection of means required for finalization of construction works on the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Orle near Velika Gorica. The required amount of HRK 3 mil would also cover operating costs of the Center for the first year of work.
Croatia has more than 22 500 registered drug addicts, however the actual number is even five times bigger. The average time from the moment when a person becomes a drug addict until commencement of rehabilitation is longer than 5 years. The capacities of such centers in Croatia are not even close to sufficient. Opening of this facility, which will be a male-only facility, will enable acceptance and treatment of a larger number of addicts, and this will contribute to solving of other addiction-related problems: family problems, crime... The goal is also to remove the stigma surrounding drug abuse that this is something happening to other people and that this is addicts' own fault. The charity campaign will also comprise a marketing campaign with a message that we are all addicted to something – coffee, cigarettes, shopping, chocolate..., and that the only fact that differentiates us from drug addicts is that we can get rid of our addictions all by ourselves, and they cannot. They need our help to get cured.
When built and opened, the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Velika Goricia will not only be the place where addicts will get cured, but they will be given opportunity to undergo education and training for certain scarce professions, and to learn certain crafts in the crafts facility. After every aspect of the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center starts to operate properly, the idea is to cover the cost of resocialization in the Center from activities of this crafts facility. The professional management and therapy program in the Center will enable patients to live and work normally so they could successfully integrate in the communities they live in as responsible citizens.
The campaign that started today with a press conference with the representatives of the Association PET+ and companies that initiated the campaign. It will end up with a charity dinner for companies-sponsors, and a call center and a charity concert will be organized. The concert will be broadcast live on Hrvatska televizija on 27 May 2008. The host star of the concert will be Marijan Brkić Brk, one of the best Croatian guitarists, and he will welcome numerous guest stars: Nina Badrić, Mladen Bodalec, Davorin Bogović, Tony Cetinski, Oliver Dragojević, Gibonni, Husein Hasanefendić, Jasenko Houra, Massimo Savić, Aki Rahimovski, Jelena Radan and Dado Topić
All citizens and companies can join the campaign by calling the donation line: 060 9001. By calling this number, you donate HRK 6.10 inclusive of VAT per call.
The contact person in the Association PET+: Miriam Kapor, secretary of the Association, phone 01/ 4828 401, e-mail:miriam@petplus.hr