- Approx. 68,000 nabbed last yr, majority for heroin, cannabis, meth
- NDDCB DG notes only 4,000 out of around 0.5 mn receiving regular treatment/rehab, inadequacy of facilities for females
The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) stated that it has observed an alarming increase in the use of narcotics in the country as 67,900 people in total had been arrested in connection with narcotics related offences between January and October of last year (2022).
Speaking in this regard, the NDDCB’s Director General (DG) Bhadrani Senanayake said that 52% of these arrestees had been apprehended for being in possession of heroin, while 37% of them were arrested for cannabis related offences. Meanwhile, a total of 6,728 individuals had been taken into custody with crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “Ice”) during this 10-month period, she added. When taking these figures into account, a substantial increase in the use and spread of heroin, cannabis and crystal methamphetamine is observed in the country, she explained.
Speaking further, Senanayake also shed light on the inadequacy of the facilities to rehabilitate drug addicts, adding that despite there being at least 100,000 heroin addicts and 350,000 cannabis addicts in the country, only 4,000 of them turn up for treatments and rehabilitation annually. Although there are both governmental and non-governmental organisations operating treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts, the facilities at these establishments are inadequate, especially for female drug addicts, Senanayake commented further.
Source By themorning.lk
