Drug rehab centre in Mandi soon

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 4

A drug prevention and rehabilitation centre will be set up at Raghunath Ka Padhar near the Regional Hospital, Mandi. It will be the first-of-its-kind model centre in the state.

A team of the Health Department inspected the departmental building and gave its nod to set up the centre. Dr Sanjay Pathak, Senior Medical Superintendent of Mental Disease Hospital, Tutikandi, said the centre would be started within two months. It will cost about Rs 30 lakh. The centre will have 25 beds.

“Sports, yoga, agriculture, horticulture and other activities will also be started in this centre,” he said.

“The government had decided to open two such centres and the first one was approved for Mandi. Although non-government centres are being run in many places, the increasing addiction of drugs among the youth has become a cause for concern. The tendency of suicide is also increasing due to mental problems,” he added.

“The government is working seriously to save the youth from drug abuse and every possible efforts are being made in this direction. The youth, who are addicted to drugs, can get treatment at the centre,” said Dr Sanjay.