Government spending on drug treatment is increasing

The National Drug Administration (NDA) has decided to increase government spending on drug rehabilitation by Rs 3 crore.

Al-Ustaz Lubna Mohammed Zahir Hussain, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NDA, presided over a special ceremony held by the Drug Court on behalf of the agency to recognize and encourage those who completed the treatment program under the Drug Court Rehabilitation Order this year.

NDA board chairman Al-Ustaz Lubna Mohammed asked state-owned enterprises to provide assistance to those who have completed drug treatment programs to find jobs.

Noting that the government has increased spending to strengthen the treatment system and has decided to add an additional Rs30 million to next year’s budget, Lubna stressed the importance of providing community support for those seeking treatment.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Justice of the Drug Court Abdul Sattar Abdul Hamid said the struggle of drug addicts to recover from drug addiction is not easy. The Chief Justice said everyone should encourage those who work hard to overcome challenges and become responsible members of society again. He said that despite the drug court ordering treatment, it was delayed due to lack of resources.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of awards and certificates for exemplary staff and best attendees of the Drug Court for 2023. In addition, a plaque was presented to anti-drug public figure Ali Adib in recognition of his contributions to the Drug Court.

The ceremony also launched the court’s YouTube channel to inform the public about the work of the drug court.

Last year, drug courts ordered 586 people into treatment. During the year, 419 people completed treatment. In addition, last year, 173 people were discharged from hospital and ordered to serve jail time for breaching treatment orders.

The ceremony was attended by Judicial Service Commission Chairman Al-Ustaz Hussain Riza Adam, Police Commissioner Ali Shuja’u, Chief Judicial Officer Al-Ustaz Aishat Rizna, High Court Chief Justice and National Drug Authority Acting CEO Mohammed Rashid, members of the agency’s board of directors, judges and drug court employees.