Centre launches 41 Addiction Treatment Facilities in Delhi for drug addicts
The facilities have been set up under PM Modi’s Nashamukt Bharat Abhiyan; will provide free treatment, counselling and free medicines to people struggling with substance addiction problems.
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Union Minister Virendra Kumar launched 41 Addiction Treatment Facilities in Delhi under the Nashamukt Bharat Abhiyan.(Twitter/ @NMBA_MSJE)To mitigate the drug addiction problem in the country, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar virtually inaugurated 41 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATF) in Delhi on Thursday.
The facilities have been set up under the Nashamukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020. Under the programme, the government plans to set up ATFs in 150 districts which will provide free treatment, both outpatient (OP) and in-patient facilities, counselling and free medicines to people struggling with substance addiction problems.
These centres will operate in 41 state and district hospitals. The patients will be monitored through follow-ups to avoid relapse instances.
Currently there are 66 ATFs attached to government hospitals supported by the ministry. Besides, the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS-Delhi has plans to establish more than 80 centres, out of which 40 are functional. The NDDTC of AIIMS Delhi is an apex centre for the treatment of drugs and substance abuse disorders in the country.
Kumar highlighted the spread of awareness against addiction in educational institutes through peer pressure. “Addiction is a big question mark on our society. When youth is afflicted with this problem, it not only causes problems to them but to the parents and entire society. This problem is rapidly increasing in schools, colleges and even premier colleges like IITs,” said Kumar, citing instances where heads of educational institutions contacted him to raise concerns over increasing addiction among students.
“Hostel wardens have found students abusing substances late at night in hostels. Students are forced into the habit because of peer pressure. Not just alcohol, our youth is now getting addicted to even harder substances,” he added.
The minister further reiterated the need to engage patients with skills, art or sports to help them overcome addiction. “When the patients engage in skills, they are better prepared to rejoin and contribute to society after battling with this grave challenge. I am seeing this type of strategy being implemented in various parts of the country,” he said.
The minister administered a pledge to work together to free the country from substance addiction.
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