Dehradun to launch northern India’s first government model drug de-addiction centre
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun will start operating Northern India’s first government model drug de-addiction centre from November 1, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal said. The centre, established by the district administration in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses, will provide consultation, medical treatment and rehabilitation support through a single contact number. Bansal chaired a meeting at Rishiparna Auditorium in the collectorate to review the centre’s operations on Thursday. The administration has tied up with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh to reserve 10 beds for treatment and consultation of people with addiction. The DM directed that block-level training schedules be prepared for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, Anganwadi staff and self-help groups to strengthen anti-drug efforts. He emphasised awareness programmes in schools to educate children about the harmful effects of drugs and instructed focused measures to support children already affected by addiction. The DM said that the centre aims to provide integrated services including medical treatment, counselling and rehabilitation. The DM instructed maximum promotion of the helpline number and campaigns against drug use in schools, colleges and industrial institutions. The initiative aligns with government guidelines to offer both awareness and immediate support for addiction management, he added.
