Inadequate facilities hampering rehab of drug addicts
Speakers at a press conference in the city on Wednesday called on the government to take steps for proper treatment and rehabilitation of the drug addicts as inadequate facilities are hampering their treatment and rehabilitation, says a press release. The number of drug addicts is rising at an alarming rate in the country, they warned. At present, there are over 50 lakh drug addicts in the country.
People of all ages are now involved in drug addiction. Inadequate treatment and rehabilitation facilities for them have complicated the matter, they noted.
Sangjog, a network of treatment and rehabilitation of the drug addicts, organised the press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium in the capital.
Dr Peter Halder, president of the organisation, Iqbal Masud, general secretary, DA Naser, vice-president, Imamul Islam Rony, treasurer, Shamim Khan,
organising secretary, and Tarun Kanti Gayen, executive committee member, spoke at the programme on the occasion.
Several clinics based on detoxification service have been set up in the country to provide treatment for the drug addicts.
This service did not fulfill the requirement of complete treatment, as it is the first stage of treatment for the addicts, they observed.
A total of 124 registered organisations are now working to rehabilitate the addicts, but they find it tough to do it due to fund crisis.
Joint initiative to be taken up by the government and Non-Government Organisation (NGOs) are needed to provide necessary vocational training to the addicts to help them rehabilitate in the society, they speakers opined.
We need to take up initiative both for prevention of drug addiction and proper treatment and rehabilitation of the addicts to build up a drug-free country.
It is a massive task, which needs government assistance, a speaker said.
They said that the government has enacted a law for issuing license and running private drug treatment and rehabilitation centres.
The act contains many inconsistencies; hence, it is not realistic in the context of the country, said a speaker, demanding amendment to the act in the interest of
building up drug-free Bangladesh.
