GUWAHATI: Assam, that was previously thought to be a transit route for drugs pumped throughout the Indo-Myanmar boundary, has almost 3 lakh medication users.
Astonishingly, the condition does not have any policy or strategy for rehabilitation of their users so far.
Over 500 individuals have been detained in recent due to their alleged involvement in drug trafficking and drugs worth more than Rs 23 crore have already been captured.
These include heroin, cannabis, syrup and other psychotropic substances.
Police intensified the”war on drugs” following the new government was made on May 10.
Since January this year, almost 2,000 people are detained and almost 1,000 cases have been enrolled so far.
Statistics obtained from law enforcement department reveals 455 instances of illegal drug trade were enrolled at 2018 while 826 at 2019 and 980 at 2020.
Likewise, 694 individuals were detained in 2018, 1,226 at 2019 and 1,652 at 2020.
Dr Sondeep Hanse, chief functionary of country level coordinating service for the state of Assam and Meghalaya, told TOI that the drug prevention and rehabilitation functions are determined by the Centre’s grant.
All of the jobs associated with rehabilitation and prevention are being completed on Centre’s grant,” he explained.
“The state government doesn’t have a permanent job to get a therapy programme to its drug consumers,” he said.
He explained,”You’ll find almost 3 lakh drug users from the country as on now of that Guwahati alone has approximately 70,000 medication users.
Of these, 10 percent does also.
So, regardless of what the figure we’re becoming on arrests of drug peddlers or consumers is minimal.
Only over 1,000 from 3 lakh have already been detained.
They aren’t big players.
War on medications ought to be about a long-term basis and there has to be proper preparation, policies and implementation,” he said.
Directorate of societal wellbeing, Assam branch officer (Persons with Disabilities Act),” Kukheswar Borah, told TOI that we now have 26 incorporated rehab center for addicts (IRCAs) operate by various NGOs from the nation, which obtain funding directly from the ministry of social justice & empowerment.
“The state administration doesn’t have any rehab strategy.
Each of the jobs are financed by the ministry,” he added.
Borah farther said that eight districts in the country are all vulnerable.
“Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Nagaon, Dhubri, Goalpara and Udalguri at the Brahmaputra Valley and Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar from the Barak Valley are classified as vulnerable.
Committees have been formed to track the implementation of schemes in such areas,” he added.
He explained the social welfare department can deliver an action strategy for prevention and rehabilitation of drug users into the ministry shortly raising many facets.
At the Hanse, who’d predicted DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta lately, stated,”I ended the subject of remedy to people sent to prison today.
They want treatment in the prison.
DGP taught IGP prison take the issue.” The prison section includes a tie with all the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treatment for drug customers lodged in prison.
Hanse said intending to secure a car, that will continue moving around town to pick up medication users, plus a 24×7 helpline telephone number along with a number of different things are available.
“The Centre will be very likely to alloacate funds.
The preparation will materializ after we get the money,” he further added.
Assam has Almost 3 lakh Medication users: Leading official
