90 Drug Users Screened at Gandhi Hospital Ahead of State’s De-Addiction, SICU Centres
Dr K. Anupama, incharge head of the psychiatry department said the unit operated under GO 4 issued by the health department. T
Hyderabad:Gandhi Hospital took for counselling 90 individuals suspected of consuming drugs over two days, prior to the inauguration of the de-addiction and substance intoxication care unit on Saturday. Similar centres will be opened in all districts as well as the Osmania General Hospital and main nodal centre, the Institute of Mental Health. For now, the screening kits to test for consumption of 12 types of drugs are being provided by the EAGLE Force.
The individuals were caught during raids by the EAGLE Force teams. All units have separate wards for men and women. Upon agreeing to undergo counselling, the drug users need to fill legal forms giving consent. They would be given support medicines, and their families counselled along with the drug user. Upon successful conclusion, they are given a certificate.
Health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha inaugurated the unit at Gandhi Hospital as part of the government’s ongoing 99-day Praja Palana – Pragati Pranalika programme. He said substance abuse should be treated as a health issue rather than a social problem.
Dr K. Anupama, incharge head of the psychiatry department said the unit operated under GO 4 issued by the health department. The facilities will have ICU beds. She said the hospital earlier treated substance abusers as walk-in cases at the out-patient department.
Gandhi Hospital Superintendent Dr N. Vani, said, “Most of the patients were sent by the EAGLE Force. “We have got nearly 90 cases by Saturday afternoon, this will increase by the end of the day.”
EAGLE Force director Sandeep Shandilya said explained that GO 4 gives the substance abuser a chance to sign a petition and take the required medication at the de-addiction centres and later obtain a clear certificate. This will help the consumer avoid a police case. “This is a forward looking GO that does not exist anywhere else to rehahilbate the drug consumer,” he said.
