Treatment of Drug Addicts

Amendment to rules demanded

29 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Officials of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission and some NGOs yesterday demanded amendment to the rules for providing better treatment to the drug addicts and their proper rehabilitation. They said the rules have many limitations to provide them treatment and rehabilitation service. The rules should be reviewed to remove its limitations, they added. They were speaking at a press conference demanding amendment to the 'Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre Management Rules-2005' jointly organised by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), BARACA and NARCOB at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said the provisions for keeping 80 square-feet space for a patient, lift facility if the centre is situated on the third floor or above and a doctor for 10 patients are not available at the centres. He said the rules will have to amend to facilitate opening of many more centres for treatment of the drug addicts that will increase facilities for their treatment. The rule that refers to only 14 days for treatment in the government-run rehabilitation centres of a drug addict are not enough, he said. It is impossible for a drug-addict to be cured by this time, he added. “We categorically demand reduction in rehabilitation licence fees of Tk 50, 000 and renewal fees of Tk 25, 000 a year to provide better treatment and rehabilitation service for the drug-addicted people,” Alam added. He said according to a survey of Bangladesh Narcotics Control Department, there are some 50 lakh drug addicts in the country. Referring to the limitations of the existing rule, he said these have been posing threat to the rehabilitation service in the country since its enforcement. Considering socio-economic situation of Bangladesh, it is essential for amendment to the existing rules, he said. BARACA Director Brother Robi Theotonius Purification, Bangladesh Youth First Concerns National Director Dr Peter Halder, Crea Chairperson Dr Tarun Kanti Gayen, DAM Coordinator Iqbal Masud and APON Executive Director Brother Ronald Drahozol were present at the press conference.