Free de-addiction centre to come up in New Shillong

SHILLONG, April 10: The Meghalaya government has decided to establish an Addict Treatment Facility (ATF) as part of the DREAM project at Umsawli, New Shillong Township (NST), by upgrading the infrastructure initially created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was taken following a result-oriented meeting involving officials from various departments, including Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang, DREAM Mission Director FG Kharshiing, representatives from the BSF, officials from Shillong Civil Hospital and other stakeholders.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting held at the State Secretariat, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the main focus was to address the lack of immediate treatment, detoxification and counselling facilities for drug addicts who are picked up from the streets and various parts of the city.
“As discussed in the previous DREAM project meeting, we have resolved to move forward with the creation of the ATF. This facility will provide essential care and support to addicts,” he stated.
The minister explained that the ATF will offer services free of cost, including treatment by trained psychiatrists, accommodation and counselling.
“Once we complete the treatment, detoxification and counselling, they should be fit to join mainstream society,” Lyngdoh said.
The ATF will be set up at the existing COVID care centre in Umsawli, which already has most of the required infrastructure.
Informing that all the essential facilities are in place, Lyngdoh said the government needs to just supplement what is missing.
“We will be providing the manpower and in the next two days, a team led by Mission Director of DREAM Mission will visit this facility to study the preparedness at the ground level and report back to me,” Lyngdoh said.
While acknowledging that the number of addicts has come down in state, the minister cautioned that drug abuse continues to be a significant issue, affecting all age groups—including pre-teens, teenagers and adults.
With regard to funding, Lyngdoh clarified that resources are already available through the DREAM Mission and the Ministry of Social Justice, with additional support coming from the Health department.
“In terms of funding, there is no shortage at all. In terms of manpower, we have currently five trained psychiatrists who have just passed out and therefore their service will be immediately utilised at the centre. Also, the DREAM Mission Director had an interaction with Kerala government and there are a number of trained psychiatrist and counsellors who are also willing to partner with us,” he added.
The minister also stated that the project will be implemented in phases, with the initial phase expected to cost between Rs 50 to Rs 70 lakh.