Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jul: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Uttarakhand STF will soon begin inspections of all de-addiction centres in the state, in coordination with the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA). This step is part of a larger plan to control drug abuse and ensure proper treatment in rehabilitation centres, senior officials said.
At present, 136 de-addiction centres are officially registered with SMHA. However, according to police reports, more than 200 such centres are operating across Uttarakhand. Authorities have now decided to take strict action against those centres that are running without proper registration.
In addition to inspecting rehab centres, STF, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will jointly inspect pharmaceutical companies in Uttarakhand. These inspections will focus on companies that store or use precursor chemicals and psychotropic substances, which are often misused in drug manufacturing.
During the inspections, ANTF teams will check whether the de-addiction centres are following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) laid out by the government. A lab technician will accompany the teams to test patients’ urine samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment being provided. Local police will also assist in these inspections.
In a high-level meeting was recently held at the STF office to discuss this action plan. Key officials who attended included STF SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar, SMHA Joint Director Dr SD Burman, NCB Zonal Director Devanand, and FDA Assistant Drug Controller Dr Sudhir Kumar.
