RIMS launches MMT programme
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 14 2012: For the first time in North East india, Mathedone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) programme has been launched today at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) .

The programme was officially launched by the Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker I Hemochandra at RIMS Jubilee Hall and was attended by the RIMS Director Prof S Sekharjit Singh as the functional president.

Applauding RIMS authorities for their initiative in providing the facility to treat drug-dependent individuals, Hemochandra sought the cooperation from every section of the society to eradicate the problem of drug abuse in Manipur.

Representative of United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) Prof Cristina Albertin stated that MMT programme is the latest development in the treatment of drug addictions, before which treatment on curbing drug abuse used to be through Buprenorphine.

Stating that on a trial basis for one year 50 patients (drug users) would be provided treatment under MMT at the RIMS facility, the professor conveyed that in case of improvement under the treatment method similar facilities would be expanded in the State.

Speaker I Hemochandra during the launch of MMT programme

Besides Manipur, MMT programme for drug users have already been established at Kapurthala and Bathinda in Punjab and at Mumbai, Cristina said.

It is informed that UNODC supports member states globally in addressing drug use and drug addiction as any other health disorder by implementing drug use prevention and providing drug dependence treatment and care services, based on scientific evidence and on ethical standards.

In sync with the global endeavour, the MMT programme at RIMS has been established under the initiative of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of AIIMS.

Methadone is said to be the most extensively used medication for long-term treatment of those dependent on opioid drugs with extensive research works in many countries having proved that MMT programme reduces not only drug use, but also in the prevention/transmission of other life-threatening diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B&C .

It is said that tendency of drug users to relapse after a certain period of treatment will be effectively addressed through the MMT programme for the latest development in the treatment rigour prolongs detoxification thereby facilitating long term treatment with medicines.

MACS Project Director Dr Shailash kumar Chourasia, Commissioner (Excise) Dr Sumant Singh, NACO Deputy director Dr Neeraj Dhingra, Narcotics Control Bureau's Eastern Zonal director RK Sahoo, RIMS Superintendent Dr H Shanti and Head of Department of Psychiatry Dr N Heramani also attended the MMT launching programme.