Government moots rehab instead of jail for drug addicts
The Government is considering sending drug addicts to rehabilitation centres in the future instead of prisons, Public Security Minister Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara said.
The Minister said that studies show that imprisonment does nothing to cure drug addiction and added that rehabilitation and vocational training could be the better option. The Minister said steps have been taken to control narcotic abuse in three phases.
“In future, drug addicts will be sent to rehabilitation camps without imprisonment and they will also be provided with vocational training,” the Minister said.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Senarath Paranavithana Memorial Retirement Home building at the Bonavista Home for the Elderly in Unawatuna and the commemoration of the 16th anniversary of the tsunami disaster at the Bonavista Home for the Elderly on Saturday The Minster said: “The drug menace will be prevented in three stages. The first is to physically stop the drugs from entering the country. The second is to reduce the demand. Thirdly, drug addicts will be sent to rehabilitation camps without being imprisoned and given vocational training”.
“Extortion, underworld, child abuse, robbery, rape and drugs cannot exist in this society. These must be successfully eradicated and the people must be allowed to live freely and peacefully,” the Minister said.
“One thousand five hundred Police personnel have tested COVID-19 positive. But, we controlled it. A country cannot be completely locked down. You have to get used to living with COVID-19. Due to this, the country has lost a great deal of income. Politicians alone cannot control this. Therefore, the people should also support,” he observed.
Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thera, President of the Galle Young Buddhists Association Sarath Dias and retired Principal Mrs. Mallika Wirakkodi also spoke.
(Source: Daily News – By Mahinda P. Liyanage)
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This Minister is great.
Why should drug addicts be kept in prisons where they meet other undesirable elements and learn further undesirable habits?
Drug addicts should be rehabilitated.
The 5 star hotels which are used to hold overseas returnees for Covid isolation, should be converted to Drug Rehab Centers and all drug addicts should be housed in these 5 star hotels at Govt expense.
Rehabilitation program for drug addicts (ie:-users) in special centres is good and commendable. Programs could be done in 03 ways – by Institutions, Community -based & out-reach programs. Of these 03, the Community – based approach is good and sustainable. As Community takes ownership, therefore long lasting & helps to reduce demand in a big way. Even if the Institutions withdraw or Out-reach programs stop, the community will have the capacity to handle it alone without external support. Temple, police & schools to be involved to make it more success ! For the attention of the Hon. Minister.