J&K Govt to increase manpower in de-addiction centres

Srinagar, Oct 29: A major decision that could operationalise drug de-addiction infrastructure better in J&K, Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to augment manpower in de-addiction facilities. The decision, taken at the recent NCORD meeting, will improve access to treatment facilities for lakhs of youth affected by addiction.

J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has directed training medical officers at IMHANS with skills for better handling of addiction cases. However, the major boost is expected with the decision that gives a push to hiring psychiatrists on academic arrangements for smooth operations of de-addiction facilities across districts of J&K. All major district hospitals have also been directed to expand their treatment capacity.

De-addiction facilities, although started in many hospitals of J&K, have remained confined to providing consultations only. Psychiatrists have been vocal about decentralising the de-addiction treatments and making it possible for people to get inpatient treatment in hospitals near their homes. This, they have said, will help in better compliance with the treatment regimen in addition to increasing the rate of treatment seeking among the affected.

The CS was chairing the 15th UT-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) Committee meeting in Srinagar. The CS stressed the need for intensified surveillance around identified drug hotspots, particularly near coaching centres and private educational institutions. He called for mapping backwards and forward linkages in every narcotics case in order to dismantle the narcotic supply network. The CS said that the driving licences of habitual offenders must be cancelled.

He also reviewed multi-pronged anti-narcotics efforts and called for AI-driven tools and higher conviction rates under the NDPS Act.

The Government has passed on instructions to challenge bail and acquittals in commercial quantities of narcotics promptly.