The National Drug Agency (NDA) has announced plans to train addiction counselors to address the growing issue of drug addiction throughout the Maldives. Chairperson Lubna Zahir revealed that discussions with the Health Ministry and Allied Insurance have laid the groundwork for this initiative.
The goal is to have trained addiction counselors stationed on every inhabited island, providing essential support to individuals battling drug addiction. While most of the training will be conducted online, some sessions will require in-person attendance. However, no timeline for the program’s launch has been disclosed.
“We are determined to place addiction counselors on every island in the Maldives, God willing,” said Lubna, who is also the state minister of the Home Ministry.
Lubna also highlighted the inactivity of the National Institute for Research and Addiction Studies over the past 12 years. She emphasized efforts to revive the institute’s operations by conducting critical research into the current state of drug use. This research will leverage existing data available at the NDA.
Mohamed Rashid, acting CEO of the NDA, elaborated on the agency’s plans to support drug-affected individuals within their communities. Collaborative discussions with the Health Ministry and Allied Insurance have also focused on providing outpatient treatment through existing health facilities. Legal action is planned against those who fail to comply with treatment protocols.
Research suggests that around 7,500 individuals in the Maldives are drug users, with drug use and relapse rates reported on every inhabited island. The NDA is working to address these challenges by strengthening counseling and treatment services nationwide.
Highlights:
- Counselor Training Program: NDA plans to train addiction counselors to be deployed on every inhabited island.
- Training Mode: Primarily online, with some in-person sessions; timeline not yet specified.
- Research Revival: The National Institute for Research and Addiction Studies will resume operations, focusing on drug use research using NDA’s data.
- Community Support: Plans to reintegrate drug-affected individuals into communities and provide outpatient treatment through existing health facilities.
- Legal Action: Measures to enforce compliance with treatment protocols.
- Statistics: Approximately 7,500 drug users in the Maldives; drug use prevalent across all inhabited islands.
- Long-Term Goals: Establishing robust counseling and treatment frameworks to reduce relapse rates and support recovery.
