The Delhi government is getting ready to set up a licensing authority to monitor and streamline the functioning of all de-addiction centres operating in the government and private sector in the National Capital Territory. The proposed authority will issue and renew licences for the operation of centres, investigate complaints, carry out periodic inspections and initiate punitive actions against violators.
The constitution of the authority is proposed in the draft ‘Delhi Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules 2018’. According to sources, the state health department would send the draft guidelines for the approval of the health minister in the next few days.
Once the new set of norms are in place, the drug de-addiction centres already functioning in the state have to apply for a new licence, failing which they won’t be allowed to operate.
A licence issued under the new norms will be valid for a period of three years unless it is suspended, revoked or canceled by the authority. The draft guidelines define de-addiction centre as a care home established under Section 71 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 for treatment of people addicted to alcohol or prescription drugs with the availability of supporting medical services.
Before issuing a licence, the authority shall get the centre in question inspected by a district level committee. The panel will get 30 days to inspect and satisfy itself about the facilities and infrastructure available at the centre.
The state government move assumes significance as the Delhi High court has recently pulled up authorities on a public interest litigation seeking a policy for providing medicines, treatment, nutrition, education and rehabilitation to drug addicts. The court also noted that de-addiction centres should not detain individuals without their consent under the guise of rehabilitation.
According to anti-drug campaigners, pharmaceutical drug abuse is also rampant in Delhi and the use of prescription pills as sedatives is more common among youngsters and students. These cheap and easily available medicines are bought by students over the counter, they say. Professional help for addicts also remains elusive as, according to official data, there are only around 4,500 psychiatrists in the country and only a few of them are involved in de-addiction or substance abuse treatment.