The Evolution Of Sedqa

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Malta saw a growing concern around drug misuse and a rising number of fatal overdoses, with annual deaths often exceeding ten. In response to the emerging crisis, the Government launched several key initiatives to develop a structured and national response.

In 1987, the Substance Misuse Outpatient Unit (SMOPU) was established under the Ministry of Health. This was Malta’s first state-run outpatient drug service and marked the beginning of a more coordinated public health approach to addiction.

On 26 June 1994, Agency Sedqa was founded as Malta’s national agency for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug, alcohol and behavioural addictions. That same year, Sedqa introduced prevention initiatives in secondary schools and launched the Peer Leadership Programme. In 1996, the T.F.A.L. primary school programme and ZAZU media campaign were introduced to promote resilience, healthy lifestyles and peer pressure resistance.

In 1995, Komunità Santa Marija (KSM), Sedqa’s drug rehabilitation facility, opened in Ħal Farruġ, Luqa. Dar Żerniq, a residential rehab programme for alcohol addiction, opened in Floriana in 1997. Both services relocated in 2004 to a new integrated hub in Ħal Farruġ. This was later expanded in 2010 with the opening of Dar l-Impenn, an inpatient detoxification centre with a 24-hour clinical team.

In 2020, Sedqa merged its community teams into a single Addictions Community Team, reflecting a broader, holistic approach to addiction. Programmes such as T.F.A.L. and Teen Outside the Box continue to be updated and delivered in schools, with increasing attention to digital addictions and family support. In 2024, Sedqa marked its 30th anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to early intervention and integrated care.

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