Srinagar, June 26: On International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Drug De-Addiction Centre, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), GMC Srinagar on Monday invited 50 religious clerics who were urged to speak about the ill effects of drug addiction and its impact in health in their sermons.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Aijaz Asad, Head Department of Psychiatry GMC Srinagar Dr Muhammad Maqbool Dar, Dr Arshad Hussain,, Dr Yasir Rather and other concerned officers and officials were present. The DC Srinagar highlighted the key points of the rehabilitation policy and prevention model in his keynote address. He appreciated and extended support to the drug rehabilitation services at the institute.
The focus of the event was on the capacity building of religious leaders in collaboration with the JK Waqf Board, supported by the Bridging Gaps NGO. Dr Maqbool Dar said the Drug De-addiction Centre at SMHS Hospitals receives 15 drug addiction patients on a daily basis and most of them are opioid users.
“Earlier, before one year we would receive cannabis patients. But now we received opioid patients due to its easy availability,” he said, adding that they have observed that there has been a curtailment/reduction in the supply of drugs as dozens of drug peddlers were arrested over the past year. “Now chemists also see the prescription of doctors and the only they give medicines and drug department is also playing an important role in this regard,” he said.
The HoD stressed the importance of understanding and identifying the signs and symptoms of drug abuse and emphasized the significance of raising awareness about drug abuse. Dr Yasir Rather spoke about drug abuse, systematic treatment, policies, and the available services for the prevention of the issue.
Dr Sajid Wani and Dr Fazle Round, Consultants at IMHANS-K, discussed various aspects of drug abuse, medical relief, recovery, and community role in prevention. Majid, CEO of the Waqf Board, highlighted the role of ulemas (Islamic scholars) in creating awareness about drug abuse. He assured that effective programs, targeted towards the population, will continue in collaboration with the department.
