The National Drug Agency (NDA) is planning to launch a detoxification outpatient programme aimed at offering rehabilitation care in the respective homes of patients, the agency’s CEO Lubna Zahir revealed Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Lubna said NDA has intensified efforts to offer much needed rehabilitation and treatment for drug addicts during the past year.
"When the government changed, there were only 30 people in the centres. But now we have picked addicts off the streets and admitted them for treatment. The number of people who want to seek treatment on their own is higher now too. And we also have treat addicts convicted by the drug court,” Lubna explained.
Lubna said rehabilitation centers require a detoxification phase before the actual treatment can begin. The process of detoxification occurs when an addicted person stops using, as the body naturally flushes out substances and toxins built up in their system. Maldives implements the detoxification through medication which can take up to 14 days.
She explained that the waitlist for drug treatment is long due to limited space for detoxification treatment, adding that there are currently about 25 places for detoxification treatment.
In a bid to work around the backlog, an outpatient treatment system is being established to enable patients to receive detoxification treatment from their own homes, Lubna said.
The outpatient detoxification system will be launched on the first island within the next month, she said without naming the island.
"We need to train nurses and doctors to start community detox. We also need to develop counselors in the Atolls. There is a National Institute for Research and Addiction Studies in the NDA. We will train them through that institute,” Lubna explained.
In addition to the detox outpatient programme, she said the NDA was working to increase the capacity inpatient facilities. The current efforts will see the capacity of detox treatment doubled to 50, Lubna added.
According to Lubna, NDA’s main rehabilitation centre in Himmafushi, Kaafu Atoll can accommodate about 170 patients, while another 400 can be treated at community service centers in the Atolls.
Community service centers are located in Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Hulhumeedhoo and Hithadhoo in Addu City and Fuvahmulah City.
According to NDA, there are currently 109 patients on the waitlist seeking drug rehabilitation treatment.