The National Drug Agency (NDA) has convened discussions with key stakeholders to deliberate on the training of additional drug counsellors. These counsellors would play a critical role in the recovery process, utilising various techniques and approaches to address addiction and support individuals in overcoming substance use disorders.
The NDA's discussions on training counsellors included the Ministry of Health and healthcare insurance provider, Allied Insurance Company Pvt. Ltd. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure that trained counsellors are available on all inhabited islands across the country.
As part of this initiative, the training programme for counsellors will be conducted online. However, NDA Chairperson Lubna Zahir revealed that certain modules of the programme will necessitate face-to-face interaction. She further noted that the National Institute for Research and Addiction Studies (NIRAS), established to address issues related to drug addiction and substance abuse, has been inactive for the past 12 years.
The NDA is currently focused on expanding the scope of NIRAS, she said. The institute is mandated to conduct research and studies on the prevalence of drug addiction in the Maldives. To facilitate these studies, according to Zahir, the NDA will provide NIRAS with access to its extensive data collection, which is deemed essential for the research.
"With God’s will, we are committed to establishing addiction counsellors on all inhabited islands throughout the country," Zahir stated.
In addition to preparing to launch training programmes for addiction counsellors, the NDA is also working on enforcing legal action against drug offenders who fail to engage with or comply with treatment protocols. In October 2024, the NDA's board of directors met with senior officials of the Drug Court to deliberate on ways to take legal action against drug offenders sentenced to treatment but not complying with the efforts.
The meeting further addressed the need to strengthen the treatment system for drug offenders. Statistics indicate that there are approximately 7,500 known drug offenders in the country. The primary goals of counselling for these individuals include addressing the underlying causes of addiction and helping them develop coping mechanisms to manage stress and triggers. Counsellors also aim to prevent relapse by equipping individuals with long-term strategies for sobriety and improving overall mental health and well-being.