NDDCB to expand Northern activities

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) will expand its activities in the Northern Province in keeping with the government's counter-narcotic strategy.

NDDCB chairperson Leisha de Silva said on Thursday they will dedicate a fair share of its resources to establish drug abuse awareness, demand reduction and treatment in the Northern Province.

"In fact, the Northern Provincial Action Plan for Drug Prevention and Control was prepared in 2010," she said. "However, the counter-narcotic efforts were in place since the establishment of civil law in the Province by way of law enforcement," she explained.

" What we are trying to do here is to set up our outreach and prevention services for the treatment of drug dependents in the Province," she said.

"We need to construct Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Centres in the Northern Province as in all the other provinces to address drug related problems in these areas on a pragmatic footing, "she explained.

NDDLB has held 13 review meetings, seven planning meetings, a number of training workshops for physicians and one drug prevention campaign to achieve the task of the Board's Provincial Drug Control Programme.

"It was red tape that prevented us from introducing some of the Board's services in the North. It is also due to our staff shortage and also due to lack of funds.

"We need to recruit about 40 new officers for the effective implementation of our national drug policy," she pointed out.