Drug Abuse in Prisons a Major Headache: TGNAB

Hyderabad:Drug abuse in prisons poses significant challenges and there was an urgent need for a multifaceted approach to tackle the issue, said Sandeep Shandilya, director of Telangana Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB), speaking at a sensitisation program on drug abuse in prisons at the State Institute of Correctional Administration at Chanchalguda in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

“We have also taken many steps to stop the smuggling of drugs and other related substances inside jails. The issue of drugs and substance abuse by prisoners needs a multi-faceted and multi-agency approach to make any meaningful impact, said Sandeep Shandilya.

State director general of prisons D. Soumya Mishra inaugurated the event. “The program is conducted to raise awareness and educate prison staff, counselors, prisoners escort staff and prison welfare officers on the growing concerns of drug addiction among inmates and the subsequent effects on prison management and rehabilitation efforts,” she explained.

Many prisoners are addicted to one or other kind of drug. The prisons department has taken up many programs to eradicate this menace in our jails due to the drive against drugs initiated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, said Shikha Goel, the chief of the Crime Investigation Department.

“We are conducting random searches in important jails with sniffer dogs and gathering intelligence from fellow prisoners. Jail hospital and staff are equipped to deal with addiction issues and serious cases are being referred to Gandhi Hospital and Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda,” Shikha said.

Still, there is a lot to be done and the central government has sanctioned six de-addiction centers to the central prisons in the state as part of a pilot program, she said. The prisons department is open to collaborating with other agencies in its efforts to eradicate drug menace, she added.