Amendment of Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre Rules-2005 is essential. We hope, before formulation of new rules, the government should give due importance to the opinion of the organizations who are providing treatment and rehabilitation services to drug users. The existing rules have many limitations because of lack of general ethics in conducting the drug treatment and rehabilitation services. This has resulted in posing a threat to the rehabilitation service conducted in Bangladesh for a long time. Considering socio-economic context of Bangladesh, it has become essential for amendment of the existing rules.
The President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Kazi Rafiqul Alam said this while addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity at Segunbagicha in the capital at 11 A.M. on 29 June, 2010.
He further said, according to clauses 5 and 6, the license fee for a 20-bed drug addiction treatment centre is Tk 50 thousand while its renewal fee is Tk 25 thousand. But license fee for a bar is Tk 10 thousand while its renewal fee is also Tk 10 thousand. At present, there are 94 Bar License, Country Liquor 216, Foreign Liquor 38, Dangerous Drug (Pathedine & Morphine) seller 752. We think that because of this phenomenon encouragement has been given to drug users.
The press conference has been jointly organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, BARACA and NARCOB with a demand for “Amendment of Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre Management Rules-2005.”
The Executive Director of APON, Brother Ronald Drahozol, CSC, the Director of BARACA, Brother Robi Theotonius Purification, CSC, the National Director of Bangladesh Youth First Concerns, Dr. Peter Halder and the Chairperson of CREA, Mr. Tarun Kanti Gayen also and DAM Coordinator Iqbal Masud spoke in the press conference.
Speakers said there are approximately 50 lakhs drug addicts in the country. There are only 49 government-approved private Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres including Detoxification centres across the country. In the existing rules, there is a provision for 80 square-feet space for a patient, lift facilities if the centre is situated on the third floor or above, a doctor for 10 beds as well as that of a psychiatrist. We do not know whether any organization has the resources or ability to set up the drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre as per the existing rule. In government treatment centres, the duration of treatment is 14 days only. At the treatment centres (four centres) which are run by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), there are four doctors, 19 nurses, two psychiatrists and a rehabilitation officer. These centers are not complying existing rule.
There is dearth of treatment facilities for drug users. Many clinics render simply detoxification service which is the first step to drug dependence treatment. Because of ignorance, many people think it to be the actual treatment of drug dependent individuals but without long-term rehabilitation, that means, without change in psychologically and behaviors alongside physical treatment, it is not possible for drug dependent to remain out of the drug dependence.