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Assignment: Guatemala’s Addicts Behind Bars

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Guatemala’s Addicts Behind Bars

28/08/2014

BBC World Service - Assignment, Guatemala’s Addicts Behind Bars

How effective are drug rehabilitation centres run by Guatemala's Pentecostal churches?

Pentecostal churches in Guatemala run many of the country's compulsory drug rehabilitation centres. But just how safe and effective are they? Linda Pressly reports.

The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in cocaine trafficking through Guatemala en route north, to the United States. Part of the fallout locally, has been a rise in addiction. As a result, more than 200 drug rehabilitation centres have been set up in the capital alone. 

Many of these are run by Pentecostal churches, with little oversight or regulation. Often addicts are swept up from the streets by 'hunting parties', and forced to attend such a centre. 

Linda Pressly travels to Guatemala City to investigate compulsory drug rehabilitation events.

(Image: Addict in one of Guatemala’s Christian rehabilitation centres. BBC Copyright)

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