Srinagar, Nov 30: The J&K High Court today directed the government to finalize the drug de-addiction policy and report its completion before the next date of hearing of the case.
The direction was issued after the court was informed that the policy for drug de-addiction for the state has been drafted by the Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences Kashmir, in collaboration with Department of Psychiatry SKIMS Medical College, and put into public domain for responses.
A division bench comprising Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Sindhu Sharma directed the state to finalize the drug de-addiction policy and report it to the court by or before next date of hearing into the case.
The court had earlier expressed its serious displeasure on the state authorities for not framing the policy and had directed the Central government for examining the issue in tune with court directions.
“Isolation of treatment of the affected persons leads to their increased stigmatization and feelings of shame and exclusion. This impedes case finding and makes the treatment difficult.”
The draft policy which was today presented before the court reveals that drug de-addiction centers should be integrated with the main hospitals in J&K to facilitate de-stigmatization of the treatment process.
It disclosed that isolation of treatment of the affected persons leads to their increased stigmatization and feelings of shame and exclusion. This impedes case finding and makes the treatment difficult, it said.
List of services which have been recommended for model de-addiction centers provides for registration, documentation, outpatient treatment, inpatient emergency services including ambulance services, dispensing of medications, psychosocial interventions, laboratory services, consultation with concerned agencies, record maintenance and service audit systems.
It also calls for training of other medical staff from primary and secondary-care levels and de-addiction centers at the medical college level.
Professional staff for model de-addiction centers has to be provided and should include a psychiatrist from Medical Council of India recognized institution, a clinical psychologist with a recognized degree, a social worker, a nurse, a pharmacist, etc.
There has been also indicated need to have special cells dedicated to drug menace in the draft policy. J&K Police, security and intelligence wing and Crime Branch of J&K Police need to work in tandem with nodal centers by deputing adequate personnel for training.
