6,995 alcohol, drug addicts’ availed counseling services at de-addiction centres in Telangana

“Counseling services are being provided to the families of persons suffering from alcohol and drug addiction at Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) and District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) during the period of treatment. During home visits after discharge of addicts, family and children counseling is also provided, said Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, BL Verma.

He said this while responding to a question on de-addiction centres posed by an MP Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. In his question, Wakchaure sought to know details of de-addiction centres for people suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in the country and the number of persons suffering from addictions admitted in these centres during the last five years. He also sought whether any other financial aid or assistance was given to families of persons suffering from addictions.

According to Verma, the Department has developed Navchetna Modules (A new consciousness on Life Skills and Drug Education for School Children) teacher training modules. The Navchetna module aims to increase awareness against drugs and promotes education on life skills among students and drug education information sessions for parents and family.

Around 6,174 people benefited from the de-addiction centres in the State in 2022-23 as against 6,020 people in 2021-22. As many as 5,924 people were benefited in 2020-21 as against 1,952 people in 2019-20. Of the total 16 de-addiction centres, 10 are Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA), three district De-Addiction Centres (DDACs), one each Outreach and Drop-in Centre (ODIC), State-Level Coordinating Agency (SLCA) and Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) in Telangana.