President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated today that arrangements will be put in place for the provision of ‘Methadone maintenance therapy’ to persons with drug addiction even without requiring residential rehabilitation for the treatment.
Methadone Maintenance Therapy is a treatment plan used in some countries to help people with drug addictions, whereby they are provided with daily medication to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
In the daily ‘President’s Answer’ broadcast by the President’s Office, an individual recently asked a related question, in response to which the President made these comments.
She stated that even people who are currently undergoing treatment from the National Drug Agency (NDA) and integrated into society, being employed, are forced to give up employment and transfer to in house rehabilitation in the instance the Drug Court passes such a sentence on them regarding a past case. The individual wanted to know if there was a solution to said issue.
Responding to the question, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that he would discuss the matter with the Ministry of Homeland, Security and Technology and other relevant government institutions and request them to ensure that the treatment is completed.
“They will ensure to set up a more robust system than now, through which the treatment can be continued and reach completion”, he said.
Methadone maintenance therapy was discontinued in the Maldives for several years and only resumed in 2020.
According to the latest figures released by the NDA, 700 people with drug addiction ordered to receive treatment by the drug court are in the queue without receiving treatment.
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