Patient tag for drug addicts

Compulsory treatment, rehab:

Chaminda PERERA

The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board yesterday said the drug dependents will be hereafter considered as patients who require treatment and rehabilitation. According to Board Chairperson, Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, the Board is ready to begin compulsory treatment and rehabilitation process for the drug dependents under the Drug Dependents Persons

(Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No, 54 of 2007 soon on the directive of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. She said the drug addicts apprehended by the Police will be produced before the Magistrate with a report from a medical officer and the court will refer them to rehabilitation centres under the new law.

Mrs Silva was speaking at a press conference held at the Media Centre for National Security yesterday. She added that the drug addicts are not receiving proper rehabilitation in conventional prisons. Silva insisted that the persons who come under the category of drug offenders such as drug peddlers and dealers should be prosecuted and they should serve a jail sentence. The drug dependents will no longer be sent to jails instead they will be directed to four identified prisons where they have to undergo a compulsory treatment and rehabilitation drive, she added.

A separate section is to be established in Thaldena, Pallekele, Weerawila and Meethrigala prisons for the rehabilitation of these drug dependants. A Dangerous Drugs Control Board director and former IGP, Victor Perera said the Police are empowered to arrest drug addicts without drugs in their possession. The rehabilitated persons will be released only after a close assessment, he added.

Victor Perera added that this assessment is done by an Assessment Board. He said that rehabilitation process is applicable only to drug addicts and the drug dealers and peddlers are prosecuted and they have to serve the prisons sentence.

K. Gamage, a Director, Dangerous Drug Control Board said an authority named National Precursor Chemical Authority will be established on November 4 to regularize the import and use of precursor chemical out of which synthetic narcotics can be manufactured.

This authority was established under the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances, Act 1 of 2008 which will cover 23 chemical substances imported to the country for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes. This Act gives effect to UN Convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and SARRC Convention.

The precursors are generally used in industry and chemical manufacture unit for licit purposes and the drug traffickers use these precursor chemicals for the production of illicit liquor.

The people who import these chemical to the country should be registered with the Authority and the Authority will closely monitor how these chemicals are being used in the country.