Objective: To explore the experiences of families who undergone a family intervention program at a drug treatment and rehabilitation agency located in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Specifically, families were asked to comment on their experience in attending the program and how much of their improvement was due to the program and other factors. Methods: Data were collected through use of a semi-structured interview with eight family members who underwent the family intervention program at the agency which consists of family psycho-education, family support group and family retreat. Observations were also conducted. Results: Five themes emerged from the analysis: therapeutic alliance between counselor and participants; helpful things participants received from the program; helpful things participants did themselves during the time they were involved in treatment; helpful things participants learned in the program that they are continuing to use; and unhelpful elements in the program. Conclusion: Findings support that the family intervention program has positive potential in supporting family members in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction.

Clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) arise from the tendency of the sickle haemoglobin to polymerize and deform red blood cells into the characteristic sickle shape. Sickle cell crisis is a devastating complication that may occur in patients with SCD. If not managed properly permanent organ damage and even death may be the final outcome. A case of a 32-year-old Nigerian lady, Gravida 1 Para 0 in her first trimester, with SCD who developed signs and symptoms of delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction after receiving packed red cell transfusion is demonstrated. Multiple red cell alloantibodies were detected in the patient's plasma; anti-Fy a, anti-Jk b and anti-E. The patient miscarriaged and succumbed to complications of hyperhaemolysis with delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction, acute chest syndrome and renal failure. There is an urgent need for mandatory red cell antibody screen and identification especially in high-risk cases. Prevention of alloimmunization by supplying phenotype-specific red cells is also required.