Meet discusses drug use scenario in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 14 2024: A joint meeting of privately run drug treatment centres, Union of Treatment & Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (U-TRUST) and NGOs working in harm reduction sector was held at the conference hall of Radiant Resort, Maiba Khul in Imphal East district on Monday to discuss the prevailing drug-use scenario and related issues.

In a release, U-TRUST informed that the meeting was attended by its executives and representatives of three NGOs namely SASO, Care Foundation and Kripa Society along with the secretary of MSACS Partners NGOs Forum (a conglomerate of 53 TI Partners).

The meeting was also endorsed by MNP+.

After an extensive and detailed deliberations on present drug use scenario, need for healthy networking and referrals between Harm Reduction and Demand Reduction Sector and future coordination and joint response, the meeting adopted various resolutions including undertaking a correlation approach among the participating organisations irrespective of mode of service delivery (harm reduction or demand reduction) to address drug use issues particularly human rights violations of drug users.

Further, it was unanimously agreed that a seminar on strengthening of existing drug treatment services and addressing the ongoing rampant human rights violations of drug users amidst the prevailing ethnic violence' shall be organised shortly by U-TRUST in partnership with other like-minded organisations/CSOs, which NGOs present agreed to extend their unwavering support for the success of the said seminar.

Acknowledging that lack of an established medium has always been a deterrent for those in the Harm Reduction and Demand Reduction sector to join hands and work for the welfare of drug users' community, the meeting decided to make every effort to pave a way for establishing a common platform for both the sectors to work together more efficiently.

The meeting also unanimously resolved to maintain a healthy networking and referral system by ensuring an open communication channel among the Rehabilitation Centres under U-TRUST and the participating NGOs.

In a significant outcome of the joint meeting, it was agreed that an effective and efficient drug overdose response system will be developed by the participating organisations for which private rehabilitation centres shall be connected with the nearest Targeted Intervention (TI) Partners in the vicinity for overdose responses, it added.

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