The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Drug rehabilitation sessions for minors to begin next week

Fathmath Shaahunaz
19 June 2018, MVT 15:12
A police dog pictured during a drug bust.
Fathmath Shaahunaz
19 June 2018, MVT 15:12

National Drug Agency (NDA) announced Tuesday that rehabilitation classes for minors in substance abuse will commence next week.

Organised jointly by Ministry of Home Affairs and NDA, the rehabilitation sessions begin next Tuesday, which marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Although the Drugs Act orders the establishment of a rehab centre specialized for children, none has been established to date. Hence the authorities have been unable to execute verdicts to rehabilitate juveniles arrested over substance abuse.

NDA's CEO Hassan Shaheel stated Tuesday that the daily classes will be conducted such that the minors' families can also attend. The children will be allowed to return home at the end of sessions.

The agency estimated that the program will commence with around 20 children, which is expected to increase in time.

NDA added that minors can also check themselves into the classes, in addition to the juveniles sentenced by the Drug Court.

"We're conducting this program for three months, but as different children have varying recovery times, we'll only know the final duration of these classes after they begin," said Shaheel.

MORE ON NEWS