M’laya to set up detoxification andde-addiction centres in every districts

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday announced setting up of detoxification and de-addiction centres in every district of the state to tackle the burgeoning drug addiction.
The Chief Minister also directed the Meghalaya Police to crackdown on hotspots of illegal drug peddling, with the goal of rehabilitating even the last user and making Meghalaya entirely drug-free.
Sangma made the announcement after chairing a review meeting with the Health and Family Welfare, Social Welfare and Police Departments to assess the progress of the government’s DREAM, a flagship initiative of the State government aimed at combating drug abuse through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
“We have given clear instruction to the Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare departments to set up minimum infrastructure for detox and de-addiction centres in the next three-four months in each of the district headquarters,” he told reporters.
He said these detox and de-addiction centres would be established within government hospitals wherever possible or in collaboration with private hospitals, faith-based organisations or NGOs willing to partner with the government.
“We are hopeful that in the next 3 to four months, we should be able to set up detoxing as well as the deaddiction centres fully functional in all the district headquarters,” the Chief Minister said. Noting that the government would ensure that necessary manpower is trained to run these de-addiction and detox centres effectively, Sangma said that suggestions also came in from different stakeholders regarding creation of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) as to how should be involved and participate in running the centres.
Detox centres are basically places that attempt to physically cleanse the body of alcohol, drugs and toxins. The de-addiction centres on the other hand deal with term counselling centres with focus on the mind and behaviours of the inmates.
Sangma said there are several detox and de-addiction centres in the state, but lamented that these centres, mostly in Shillong and few districts, and though funded by the central or state governments, have exorbitant fees for rehabilitation.
“The fees they charge from the inmates is very high and that will deter willing drug abusers to seek counselling and rehabilitation. So, we will regulate that,” he added. The Chief Minister also instructed the police department to deal with drug peddlers and conduct surprise visits in hotpots where peddlers and drug users frequent.
“Strict instructions and directions had been given to the police department to crackdown on hot pots and areas where drugs are being sold. Surprise visits and checks will be conducted by the police and this will be done in a strict and aggressive manner. The retail part where the sales (of drugs) takes place we want to ensure that the police now act firmly and CCTVs will be put up in these locations,” Sangma said.