YINGKIONG, 16 Sep: The Upper Siang District Monitoring Committee for the Drug De-Addiction Centre (DDAC) conducted an inspection of the DDAC here on Tuesday to take stock of its operations and discuss the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for effective monitoring, management, and improved functioning of the centre.
Senior psychiatrist Dr Karo Teng informed the committee about the lack of sufficient beds and inadequate facilities at the de-addiction centre, and emphasized the urgent need for well-facilitated infrastructure and adequate funding.
“We are doing our best to serve the community, but with cases rising at an alarming rate, there is an urgent requirement for proper and separate facilities for malesand females, adequate staffing, and financial support to provide treatment and care as per the SOPs,” Dr Teng said.
The 10-bedded DDAC was established in 2021 on the premises of the district hospital here under the Chief Minister’s Nasha Mukt Abhiyan to provide rehabilitation services to drug addicts from across the district. The centre started functioning in 2022 and 109 patients have been admitted till date, of whom 104 have been successfully treated and discharged.
At present, the centre accommodates five women inmates.
As per a report provided by the centre, 22 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome, 75 patients with multiple drug use dependence, two patients with ganja dependence, and four patients with opium dependence have been treated.
Additionally, the centre also reported nine cases of relapse, and said that 13 beneficiaries availed of the TeleManas services for further psychological support.
The committee members included District Medical Officer Dr Gepeng Litin, SP Token Saring, ICDS Deputy Director Ine Pertin, DIPRO Yalik Jerang, ISSE DPO Norbu Tsering, and DTO Dr Ayik Miyu. (DIPRO)
