Approaches to substance abuse in Cuba: Ricardo A. González MD PhD DrSc. Psychiatrist and consulting professor, Eduardo B. Ordaz Psychiatric Hospital, Havana. Interviewed by Christina Mills.

For over 40 years, he has done one of the most difficult jobs in medicine; 4000 of his patients are among those many might write off as "lost causes." Yet he radiates optimism, his stories and experience reflecting a belief in the human potential to change and grow and a vocation to help his patients do so. Now an internationally recognized expert on addictions, in 1976 Dr González founded Cuba's first patient service for substance abuse at the Eduardo B. Ordaz Psychiatric Hospital in Havana, a program he directed until last year. It is now the national reference center for another 17 such programs, two more in Havana and one in every other Cuban province. In addition, it serves as a model for treatment centers catering to international patients (undoubtedly the most well known among them Diego Maradona, the Argentine soccer star): two in Holguin Province and one in Santiago Province, with another being developed at Las Praderas International Health Center in Havana. Dr González's 25 books on psychiatry, medical ethics and addictions attest to a prolific career in research and practice. Today, he continues to work "from retirement" as consulting professor and psychiatrist in the addiction service he founded, and also chairs Cuba's National Medical Ethics Commission. In this interview, Dr González shares insights from his years of experience addressing substance abuse, as well as on repercussions and management of such conditions in Cuba.