De-addiction centres

THE problem of drug abuse is an acute one and overcoming it requires efforts both at the individual and community levels. For a state like Himachal Pradesh, which according to the National Crime Records Bureau is ranked second after Punjab in the crime rate under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, de-addiction centres have a critical role to play in helping those hooked to substances kick the habit. In such a situation, the shutting down of these centres during the pandemic needs reassessment. The pandemic brought with it constraints that must have affected the functioning of these centres or forced them to perform under limitations because the priorities of the medical community and related infrastructure changed accordingly. But death or ill-treatment is a serious matter and should be probed for irregularities. Shortage of staff and medicines, along with the possibility of mismanagement, should be investigated. De-addiction centres are required to adhere to protocols made mandatory by the competent authority and violations are not acceptable.

Himachal Pradesh’s geography and contiguous border with Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, besides the illegal cultivation of banned substances and the inflow of international tourists on a large scale, render the state vulnerable to drug trafficking. While setting up facilities to help people recover, it also has to be borne in mind that long-term treatment to recover from the habit is an expensive affair.

Deaths at these centres due to shortage of funds as the number of patients declined is a serious charge and such negligence should not go unpunished. De-addiction centres are not money-minting ventures, and while their viability is important, things should not be allowed to come to such a pass that casualties occur for want of resources. Sensitising the staff, besides dealing with their inadequate numbers, should be a priority, despite it being a tough call.