Organisations appeal Government to protect drug users from abuse
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 13 2021:
Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), Users' Society for Effective Response (USER) and Kangleipak Drug Awareness and Prevention (KADAP) have urged the Government and the Departments concerned to protect drug users from abuse and forced institutionalisation.
Speaking to media persons, spokesperson of the three bodies, Sagolsem Herojit said even though the Government had brought rules/laws regarding prevention of drug abuse by publishing it in the State Gazette on December 18, 2020, the same rules have not been strictly followed by the rehabilitation centres.
Alleging that staff of Re-integration Rehabilitation Centre at Ayangpalli Mutum Leikai had tried to forcibly institutionalise a drug user from Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai without the consent of the person and family members, he said that the three bodies have spoken with the staff of the rehabilitation centre on the matter.
Stating such forceful institutionalisation of drug users violates human rights and is against the law, he claimed that there are reports that some of the rehabilitation centres are not returning/releasing the inmates when their parents and guardians approached to move their wards to other rehabilitation centres which cost less.
Advising all rehabilitation centres to shun such unlawful practices, he appealed to the Social Welfare Department and the authorities concerned to look into the functioning of the rehabilitation centres and protect the drug users from abuse and ill treatment.