The Saint James Hospital Group has opened a rehabilitation centre in Gozo to help those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The centre, Saint James Anew, is designed to help people who can no longer control their addiction, to the extent that they are harming themselves as well as their families.

The opening was officially inaugurated by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono together with the St James Hospital Group chairman Dr Josie Muscat.

"We are inaugurating a centre of excellence in the sphere of drug and alcohol misuse, where people will be treated individually according to their addiction, while respecting their anonymity and confidentiality," Dr Muscat said.

"We are proud to say that Anew is offering a unique programme that has already captured the interests of foreigners with 40 per cent of its current clients being foreign," he added.

Mrs Debono said it was a pleasure to have such a centre in Gozo. She was also pleased to note that the treatment was being extended to the family members of the clients attending the programme.

More information can be obtained by contacting Saint James Anew on 21565663 or via their Malta website at www.stjamesanew.com