Visakhapatnam: The number of government-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Andhra Pradesh is inadequate to meet the current demand. Meanwhile, unlicenced private de-addiction centres which use unscientific methods of treatment are flourishing.
The Government Hospital for Mental Care is the only state-run hospital in Andhra Pradesh which offers de-addiction facilities. Apart from this, there are 11 Union Government-funded de-addiction centres, which are known as Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA), in the state. According to reports produced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, each IRCA has 15 beds. Which means there are only 165 beds available in all, across the state.
The Ministry of Social Justice ministry designates an NGO of good repute as the Regional Resource and Training Centre (RRTC) for each state. That NGOs is responsible for preparation of a training schedule and for inspecting and monitoring the ICRAs at regular intervals. The T.T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation of Chennai is the RRTC responsible for AP, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
When asked about the main challenges in tackling the surge in cases of drug abuse in AP, Dr Shanti Ranganathan, the secretary of the T.T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation, said, “At a very young age people are getting addicted to mind altering substances. However, the number of de-addiction centres and their bed strength is not increasing in the same proportion.”
She added that privately-run rehab centres were taking advantage of the situation. “What is worrying is that many unlicensed rehab centres are coming up. Because of the unscientific methods of treatment adopted there, people suffer from relapses and consume more substance than before, which makes the situation worse.”
