No drugs-free islands in Maldives: Lubna

National Drug Agency (NDA) Chairman and State Minister at Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology Lubna Zahir Hussain has said that there at present, use of illegal drugs is present in every inhabited island in the country.

In a press briefing held by NDA yesterday at Iskandhar Koshi, Lubna referred to Police statistics over the past five years and said that based on this, no islands remain drugs-free.

"There are no islands in Maldives where a drugs related incident has not taken place. This means, there are no islands where drugs use is not present," she said.

In light of this, Lubna stated that it is crucial to set up drug rehabilitation and treatment facilities across the atolls as well.

Lubna said that the government is currently working on setting up community rehabilitation centres in Noonu atoll Velidhoo, Kaafu atoll Kaashidhoo and Laamu atoll Gan. She further added that permits had been obtained to establish outpatient treatment facilities in various regions as well, which will allow for treatment to be given through regional hospitals.

It was also announced that an outpatient treatment clinic will be opened in Hulhumale' soon. Methadone treatments, which were previously only available in Male', are now available in Hulhumale' as well.

Remand Centres have also been set up in Hulhumale' and Kaafu atoll Himmafushi.

NDA also revealed that there is no pending queue awaiting treatment, with the only remaining people not receiving treatment yet due to other medical complications.

NDA Acting CEO Mohamed Rashid said that relapsing into drug use is prevalent in the country. He admitted that NDA, too, lacks the capacity to follow up after they are released back into society after treatment.

According to Rashid, those who are reintegrating into society after treatment must be assisted with finding work, as well as be monitored for changes they undergo once in a work environment. This work, he said, remains lacking and is not done to the required levels as of yet.

"We are not able to offer assistance more than to a very limited level. It is very difficult to find job opportunities. People are reluctant to hire those with a history in issues such as this. So we now believe we should provide assistance even in finding jobs," Rashid said.

"Even when in jobs, we believe our outreach staff should visit the work sites and meet with supervisors and gauge disciplinary changes that come through work and offer assistance."

He said that having to treat the same people repeatedly deprive incomers of treatment.

Rashid noted the lack of a drugs use related survey in the past years, and announced that the National Drug Council is currently working on conducting such a survey.

Superintendent of Police and Drug Enforcement Department Head Nahid Hussain said that Police have commenced efforts to detain drug users on the streets and offer them treatment.

He said that such persons, common amongst those sleeping in mosques, engaged in thievery, and begging on streets, will be taking into detention and transferred directly to remand centres.

Nahid said that since October 9, 14 people have been placed in detention for drug use. He said that the positive effects of transferring them straight to remand centres will soon be seen on the streets.