While Maldives has made remarkable progress in the control of communicable diseases like malaria, and filaria , the menace of drug addiction is still rampant.
A report on Haveeru that came out following prison riots states that at the moment there are around 49 female prisoners in the jail which houses around 700 inmates. Most of the prisoners are serving sentences on drugs related charges.
These are appalling statistics. In the absence of intense rehabilitation to treat the affected individuals, Maldives will face a social nightmare.
Drug addiction is a complex disease that affects the brain.
It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of severe adverse consequences.
Controlling the the abuse of drugs is an important worldwide concern. The harms associated with drug abuse have galvanized concern around the world. The widespread frustration over the magnitude of drug consumption, the drug trade and associated crime is alarming.
One country that stands out in the fight against the illegal drug business is Singapore.
Drug related problems in Singapore have been largely contained by strict government measures.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is the main drug enforcement agency, which closely co-operates with the Customs and Excise Department and the police force to eliminate drug supplies and to prevent and reduce drug abuse.
In Singapore, drug traffickers are prosecuted in courts of law under the Misuse of Drugs Act or detained under the Criminal Law Act.
Drug addicts are admitted to drug rehabilitation centres for compulsory treatment and rehabilitation.
The inmates take part in physical exercise which is a form of paramilitary training intended to restore their health and to inculcate self-discipline. They are also provided with counselling and ample opportunities to learn a trade, to improve their vocational skills or to better their academic qualifications.
The addicts who have undergone treatment are provided with gainful employment and after work they reside in half-way houses for a period of time.
The progress towards a drug-free life of addicts released from treatment is closely monitored through their employers and family members.
Maldives cannot afford to lose out on its younger generation facing this deadly disease. Both political will and compassion are required to tackle the drug menace head on. It can be done, we just need to tread the path that others have done in similar circumstance and achieved a successful outcome.
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