On Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Prevention of Drug abuse in Maldives
On Detoxification
1. Do we need new detox centers across the country ?
2.Can we have detox teams who can visit all atolls to conduct detoxification camps. Visiting teams to train primary health care physicians on detox methods and open the doors of health care centres and regional hospitals for detox purposes.
3. Detox team at a central location like villingili (detox centre?) can be the focal point to network with the detox work carried out thru out the country?
4. Detox teams to visit with senior NA and NARANON members to set up meetings and remain for longer duration till island communities becomes self sufficient. 5. Have a good referral system established to refer those who need further institutionalised care for further rehabilitation
On Treatment and Rehabalitation
1. Decentralise treatment( more than it is now). Difficult to run big centres and several disadvantages in having large centres such as DRC himmafushi, working on a single treatment method like TC.
2. Select more regions and have centres with few beds, encourage different models of treatment to take place, allow option for treatment methods within the country
3. Privatize rehabilitation, but have specific minimum standards to be practiced, with a focal point to monitor nation wide rehabilitation centres, may be NNCB
4. Allow ex addicts to play a major role in the treatment and rehabilitation process , allow professionals to be equally involved.
5. Begin treatment and rehab in the prison
6. Decentralise community based tr and reh.
7. Segregate those with criminial records and without, when offering treatment.
8. Important to clean up NNCB (keeping in view auditor generals report on NNCB)
Prevention and Awareness
1.INTRODUCE EVIDENCE BASED PARENTING PROGRAM NATIONWIDE.
2.Introduce school based awareness program that have been tested in neighbouring countries EX. The scout badge program followed in some of the Malaysian schools and life skills education 3. Expand mentoring among school children with behavioral problems
4. Increase the opportunities for employment and further education for those who complete education ( high school)
5. Increase spirituality and meaning in life.......religous/spiritual education
6. Increase community rehabilitation and develop the employment assistance program for recovering addicts.
I think the outcome of this major event would be to produce a plan of action that would steer the country towards a drug free country. So ( I am being deliberately critical here) , at the end some papers would be generated. So whats new? How many such papers, how many such conferences and workshops have been conducted in the country? What was the outcome? True, we have new and determined leadership, we have the National Drug Council....true..aye. BUT.
1) Would you all address in the paper (action plan) a mechanism to ensure that what is on paper would be definitely put in to action? Ensure that this is not just another bureaucratic stunt and that this paper would not end up collecting dust some where as has happened so many times in the past?
2) It is important thing to have a professional group to develop, monitor research and review the drug situation, quality and outcome of treatment, rehab and prevention programmes carried out across the country. They can be made responsible in facilitating a National Annual Conference related to substance abuse issues in the country. This can be the forum where the outcome of the programmes conducted in the country through out that year can be presented, yes with evidence and then review accordingly.
3) Understand why previous programmes failed or was forced to be stopped midway or whether they were discarded or shredded. This has to be understood to ensure that what you start today, will not meet the same end. To ensure that whatever programmes that are implemented ( either by the government or NGOS) will have a time line, a starting point, the process, an end point and opportunity for review and follow up. Unless this is done, some one will start a new program today, next day some one else will come, discredit it and put it in the bin (without ever knowing how useful or useless this was). We have to make sure this sort of thing does not disrupt the programs in the country. I think , this issue has to be addressed in a concrete way if whatever we may decide is to take real shape.
Any way, what happens , what is decided in this conference will surely play a major role in the policy decisions that are going to be implemented in the near future.The best of our brains , all stakeholders and our leaders are present in this gathering so good is bound to happen! I am sure.
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