Meghalaya Government to set up Addict Treatment Facility: Paul Lyngdoh

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: In a move to strengthen the state’s anti-drug campaign, Meghalaya’s Minister in Charge of Social Welfare, Paul Lyngdoh, announced on Thursday that the government will establish an Addict Treatment Facility (ATF) at Umsawli to cater to drug users in need of urgent medical and psychological care.

Speaking after chairing a high-level meeting attended by Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang, Mission Director of DREAM FG Kharshiing, Superintendent of Police (ANTF) Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, the Director of Health Services, and the Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Shillong, Lyngdoh underscored the urgent need for structured intervention to address the rising number of drug addicts being picked up from various parts of Shillong.

“The focal point of the meeting was to ensure that the number of drug addicts that are picked up from the street and from various parts of the city now do not have any facility for immediate treatment, detoxification and counselling,” Lyngdoh stated.

“So in order to facilitate those facilities for these addicts, today’s meeting resolved that we will push forward, as was discussed in the last meeting of the DREAM Project, for the creation of what is called the ATF — Addict Treatment Facility,” he added.

Elaborating on the planned facility, Lyngdoh said, “In this ATF, we will have trained psychiatrists, we will have beds and accommodation facilities, and also we will have counselling for the addicts. The idea being that once we complete the treatment, they should be fit to join mainstream society.”

The proposed ATF will be set up at the former COVID Centre in Umsawli, which already has the basic infrastructure required. “We just need to supplement whatever is lacking in that centre — manpower we will be providing,” the minister added.

Also Read: Meghalaya: Minister Paul Lyngdoh Outlines Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Drug Menace

Also Watch: