The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here Friday under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the first-ever drug de-addiction policy in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said.
Advisors to the governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to governor Umang Narula attended the meeting, he said.
The issue of functioning of various de-addiction facilities and provision of good health conditions to the inmates, establishment of rehabilitation centres, drug de-addiction centres and providing a comprehensive mechanism to address this menace was discussed, the spokesman said.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed the state government to draft the drug de-addiction policy and provide a more comprehensive mechanism to address the drug addiction in the state.
Consequent to this a series of meetings were chaired by the chief secretary and slew of directions were issued to Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, including the release of Rs 50,000 each to GMC, Jammu and Srinagar, to facilitate an empirical study on the extent of drug addiction and de-addiction challenges, he said.
The policy focuses on various key aspects including prevention, rehabilitation and integration, training and sensitisation, community participation, generating awareness, upgradation and establishment of drug de-addiction centres, the spokesman said.
There has been a steep rise in physical, mental and substance-use disorders over the past two decades across the state.
Most common substances of abuse identified included nicotine, opium and medicinal opioids, cannabis, benzodiazepines and other prescription medications, alcohol and inhalants, the spokesman said.
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