Treatment centres, number of addicts not compatible: Dr Lenin
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 25 2022: Observing that there are fewer numbers of facilities to provide relevant treatment to addicts as compared to number of substance abusers, RIMS psychiatry department's head Dr RK Lenin has stressed the need for increasing the number of such facilities.

An interaction programme of medical-media group, which was formed to increase awareness activities on healthcare related issues, was held at the RIMS psychiatric department here on Saturday ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Dr Lenin, who is also the founder of the group, said that there is the need to increase the number of facilities providing treatment to addicts to bring them back to normal life and to save the society from the disturbing trend of drug menace.

He also called for mass participation in reducing prevalence of substance abuse.

The most vulnerable groups to substance abuse are the teenage and young adult groups.

Moreover, prevalence rate of substance abuse is increasing among female in the state.

People generally see liquor, heroin, psychotropic tablets as drugs but tobacco is also a major part of substance abuse.

Women surpass men in terms of tobacco users.

Zarda and Talab consumption is becoming a fashion trend among the women while number of women using Khaini is also increasing.

A trend of women using other forms of intoxicants is also becoming commonplace in any social or private events.

Illegal substances are being used like they are legal in the society and it affects the morality of the younger generations.

The state has around 40,000 injecting drug users and around 1 lakh addicts of other intoxicants.

However, there are very few numbers of facilities providing treatment to these addicts.

With a number of private rehabilitation centres mushrooming up despite lack of public facilities, the society is hearing reports of inmates becoming victims of extreme measures adopted in these private centres.

Process is on to establish rehabilitation centres under ministry of social welfare, he said.

In order to resolve such issues, the government can establish several treatment facilities, regulate private rehabilitation centres through proper SOP and provide financial assistance to such centres.

Despite the initiatives for rehabilitation, the number of new addicts is increasing overwhelmingly, and it will require mass awareness programmes and early intervention measures from the government, said Dr Lenin.

On the other hand, the society has ignored mental health for a long time.

A poor mental health will render meaningless any achievement of an individual.

It is important to improve mental health to lead a happy life.

Similarly, improving the mental health of the addicts in parallel with the de addiction and rehabilitation therapy is very important to prevent any relapse, he contended.

He also explained about the objectives behind the International Day against Drug.

Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which will be observed worldwide on Sunday.

He said that drug trafficking increases the prevalence of unlawful activities and crimes in the society while at the same time impair human behaviour.

This also leads to domestic violence, broken families, lack of attention in one's duty and various other crises, he cautioned.

Earlier, the global approach to prevent substance abuse was taken up in two-pronged strategy demand reduction and supply reduction.

As this strategy can no longer contain the situation, another approach called harm reduction was added to lessen the negative impact of substance abuse while facilitating gradual withdrawal from such habit.

MMT scheme of RIMS and Needle Exchange programme of MSACS are examples of harm reduction approach.

These programmes can help in reducing the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis among drug users.

Under these programmes, an alternative to injecting drugs is provided to them in the form of dispersible tablets, which they can keep under their tongue to get the feeling.

Beneficiaries of such programmes no longer demand money from their families and they can be brought into the fold of family life gradually.

Since these alternatives do not contain any intoxicants, the users can gradually return to normal life.

Clients of these programmes also include several office goers, law enforcement personnel and individuals holding high ranking posts, he added.

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