Imphal, June 18 2009: Giving a ray of hope to a group of injecting drug users (IDUs) who now want to given up their drug habit, a 15-day residential free drug treatment programme organised as part of the UNODC Project 'Low Cost Community Based Drug Treatment Programme' concluded successfully at North Imphal Girls' High School, Chingmeirong today.

Sharing their experience, participating clients said that although they were aware of the existence of rehabilitation centres, financial constraints in the family have deterred them from approaching for necessary treatment in the past.

So organising such free treatment programmes is a real blessing for them.

Admitting that dependent on drugs have made them felt so worthless in life that they had even contemplated suicide, the participants said that the after participation in the programme they have been motivated to leave behind their murky past and start living a new life.

Integrated Women and Children Development Centre (IWCDC), Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai joined hands with Youth Affairs and Sports Association (YASA) and Meira Paibi Local CADA Unit of Chingmeirong Maning Leikai in organising the drug treatment programme.

The valedictory function was held with teacher of North Imphal Girls High School and advisor of YASA Deven, headmistress of the school Guni Devi, secretary of local CADA unit Hema Devi and teacher of the school Kumar as presidium members.

Family members of the participating clients, community stakeholders like school authorities, collaborating agency members, networking partner representatives were also present at the occasion.

According to Rosul Sagolsem, who is the team leader of the programme, the actual programme was preceded by a preparatory phase of 3 months during which networking meetings with various partners were held apart from conducting community sensitisation programme at various sites including Lei-Ingkhol, Sangakpham, Thangmeiband and Chingmeirong.

On the treatment regimen of the programme, he explained that it consists of two segments.

In the first segment, detoxification is carried out and in the second segment rehabilitation process is initiated through psycho-social behavioural therapy like individual counselling, input session, yoga and meditation, therapeutic drug assignment and relapse prevention planning.

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