DRUG DE-ADDICTION CENTRES: It's a money-minting business for a section!

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government is now vigilante against a section of drug rehabilitation and de-addiction centres doing business on the pretext of rehabilitating addicted youths in the state without having any basic amenities for the task. The State Government will soon issue an SOP (standard operating procedure) for such centres to follow.

The State Government's all-out war against drugs has compelled a section of addicted youths to rush to such rehabilitation centres. Taking that advantage, some people from outside Assam take houses for rent and run rehabilitation centres without making any basic amenities required for the purpose available. A section of such centres gets grants from the government, besides charging hefty amounts from the guardians of the addicted youths.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called a meeting of the State Level Coordinating Agency on Drug Prevention and discussed the rehabilitation of drug-addicted youths. The Chief Minister advocated for a scientific approach so that rehabilitated persons do not fall back into the habit of drug addiction again.

Complaints against a section of drug rehabilitation and de-addiction centres are common. There are allegations that such centres often resort to torturing addicted persons on the pretext of treatment. Based on such a complaint, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pijush Hazarika visited a rehabilitation centre in the city today and found its condition measurable. Around 60 youths are under treatment in four rooms. The minister warned the owner of the centre hailing from Kolkata to make all facilities available in the centre within three days or he would face the music. The minister instructed the police to watch the centre round the clock for three days. The minister said, "I will hold a meeting with all the owners of such rehabilitation centres on Saturday. We will issue an SOP for running such centres. We will not allow anyone to run a business in the name of de-addiction. This task needs a humanitarian and social approach."

Talking to The Sentinel, a renowned psychiatrist said, "When an addicted youth leaves taking drugs, he becomes irritated, arrogant and violent. Using force to control such a youth is illegal. Soft motivating skills can bring such youths back on track. However, a section of rehabilitation centres uses force to control such addicted youths. It happens because most of such centres lack trained and dedicated staff members."

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