A father searching for treatment for his son’s drug dependence contacted hundreds of hospitals, a case that illustrates the difficulty Korean families can face when trying to move from recognizing addiction to finding actual care. The story is part of a longer Kyunghyang Shinmun series following people living with addiction and attempting recovery over several years.
Addiction treatment is not a single medical intervention. Patients may need detoxification, psychiatric care, counseling, medication, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up, and not every hospital is equipped or willing to provide the full range. For families in crisis, that fragmentation can turn a request for help into a long chain of calls, referrals and refusals.
The policy context
The father’s experience also shows why recovery cannot be measured only by whether someone stops using a drug for a short period. People dealing with dependence often need sustained support to rebuild daily routines, relationships and health. When treatment access is difficult, relatives can become informal case managers without the expertise or institutional support normally required for that role.
Korea has increased public attention on drug offenses as use has become a more visible social issue. Treatment capacity, however, is a different part of the response. Enforcement can reduce supply or punish illegal conduct, but people who are already dependent need accessible clinical pathways if policy is meant to reduce relapse and long-term harm.
The central question raised by the case is whether a family asking for help can quickly find a facility able to take responsibility for treatment. Better referral systems, clearer information on available beds and specialties, and stronger continuity between medical and community care would reduce the burden now falling on patients and relatives during the most unstable stage of recovery.