Joint Secretary (Social Defence) 18 th & 19 th December 2012 Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi

Transcription

1 Inter Ministerial Conference for Mainstreaming HIV Presentation Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment by T.R. Meena Joint Secretary (Social Defence) 18 th & 19 th December 2012 Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi 1

2 ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION Constitutional Provision: Articlei l 47 provides that the State shall hllregard the raising ii of the levell of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavourto o bring gabout prohibition po o of consumption, o exceptformedicinal ecep ed c purposes, of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction. The Ministry adopted a three pronged strategy towards addressing the issues: Awareness building and educating people about the ill effects of drug abuse. Community based intervention for motivational counseling, identification, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, and Training of volunteers/service providers and other stakeholders with a view to build up a committed and skilled cadre. 12/19/ :54 AM 2

3 Extent, Trends and Pattern of Drug Abuse At present, there is no authentic data with regard to the extent, pattern and trends on the incidence of alcoholism and substance abuse in the country. Only data available is of the National Household Survey conducted by the MSJE in collaboration with UNODC published in 2004 which reported that there were 62.5m, 8.7m and 2.0m users of alcohol, cannabis and opium respectively. Between 17 26% were dependent users. As sample size of survey was very small (40,697 persons) and limited to males only, the projections at national level can be only indicative. The NSSO was requested to conduct a pilot survey in the cities of Amritsar (Punjab), Imphal (Manipur) and Mumbai. The broad objective of the pilot survey was to test the methodologyof survey. Based on the experience gained from the pilot survey, an advanced pilot survey is being conducted in the States of Punjab, Manipur and Maharashtra. 12/19/ :54 AM 3

4 N C C D R NCDR A National Consultative Committee on De addiction and Rehabilitation Services (NCCDR) under the chairpersonship of Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment has been constituted in July, The Committee has representation of various stakeholders including agencies dealing with supply and demand reduction. It is meant to advise the Government on issues connected with drug demand reduction, education/awareness building, de addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts. On the recommendation of the NCCDR, the Ministry is presently formulating a Nti NationalPolicy on Prevention Alcoholism li and Substance Abuse and rehabilitation of its victims. 12/19/ :54 AM 4

5 S A P A S A S D S The Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Social Defence Services has implemented from The revised scheme has come into effect from Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided upto 90% of the project cost for setting up/running: Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) Holding Awareness-cum-De-addiction Camps (ACDC), Awareness generation programme etc. by voluntary and other eligible organizations for identification, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. More than 300 centres covering about 1,20,000 beneficiaries has been supported every year under the Scheme. Keeping in view the rising cost of living, the cost norms of the Scheme is under revision. 12/19/ :54 AM 5

6 P F P S XI P (Amt. in Rs. Crore) Year BE RE Amount Released No. of NGOs assisted No of Projects assisted No. of beneficiaries (Approx) /19/ :54 AM 6

7 International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking Each year, 26th June, is observed as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to renew our resolvee to fight this menace collectively by organizing awareness generation campaigns, holding seminars/workshops, cultural programmes, exhibitions, etc. States/UTs are also advised to observe the day in a befitting manner by holding of awareness generation camps/seminars/workshops, cultural programmes, nukkad nataks, tk etc. This year, on the request of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, SMSs were sent to more than 20 crore mobile subscribers all over the country advising them to keep away from the drugs and also to help the drug dependent persons to come out of the menace of drugs. 12/19/ :54 AM 7

8 Awareness Generation Efforts on Prevention of Substance Abuse The Ministry, in collaboration with NYKS, has undertaken awareness generation programme about the ill effects of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse amongst theyouth h in 10 districtsi of Punjab and 7 districtsi of Manipur to cover 3750 villages through door to door campaign, wall writings, candle march, poster campaigns, street plays, etc. The Ministry has also collaborated with the National Bal Bhavan for awareness generation about ill effects of drug abuse among the children of the age group of 12 to 16 years through a series of activities like poster making, creative writing, lecture, rally, nukkad natak, etc. at local, zonal and national level. On the occasion of children day i.e. 14 th November 2012 painting events to create awareness among the children against drug abuse were organized in the selected schools by the State Goverments on the request of the Ministry. 12/19/ :54 AM 8

9 National Award in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism anddrug Abuse A National Award Scheme in the field of prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has been prepared with the concurrence of Ministry of Home Affairs and Prime Minister Office. The Scheme will be notified shortly and the first National Awards will be presented on the International day against Drug abuse and Illicit trafficking i.e. 26th June /19/ :54 AM 9

10 N I S D NISD NISD, an autonomous registered body under the Ministry of SJ&E is a Nodal Institute for training and research in the field of social defence. Though social defence covers the entire gamut of activities and programmes for the protection of society, the Institute is mainly assigned the task of human resource development in the areas of: drug abuse prevention care of older persons and other social defence issues including beggary prevention. The Institute work in close collaboration with the RRTCs and The Institute work in close collaboration with the RRTCs and other collaborating partners 12/19/ :54 AM 10

11 P D A P Some of the major activities and programmes under Drug Abuse Prevention are: Three Months Certificate Course on De addiction Counseling and Rehabilitation One Month Basic Course on Drug Abuse Prevention 2 to 5 days Thematic Skill Building Programmes 12/19/ :54 AM 11

12 R R T C RRTC Training is an important component for capacity building and skilldevelopment for the service providers. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), with long experience and expertise have been designated as Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) for different regions of the country. There are presently 10 (ten) RRTCs funded under the Scheme of Assistance for Preventionof Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse and 3(three)RRTCsfunded the Scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons. 12/19/ :54 AM 12

13 R R R T C RRTC These RRTCs serve as as field training units of the National Institute of Social Defence. They are expected to act as a clearing house and be a resource centre in the relevant field at the regional level. Broad activities would include monitoring and providing technical support, advocacy and networking, training and capacity building for effective delivery of service by the Centres funded by the Ministry. The RRTCs are also required to interface with concerned state government departments, local bodies, schools and colleges, NYKs and NSS units, PRIs, etc. for forging linkages and facilitating the process of inspection and timely submission of recommendations from the state governments for releasing of grants in aid. 12/19/ :54 AM 13

14 Collaboration of NACO and MSJE The target groups of NACO and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are quite similar. Also the nature of the problems/issues faced are also similar as far as the target group are concerned. The vulnerable group which is at high risk of being infected with HIV and AIDS like Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), Sex workers, Man having sex with Man (MSM), Truckers etc is also at high risk of being addicted to drugs. Moreover, the persons infected with HIV/AIDS and dependent on drugs are hidden population and do not come out in open for any help or assistance or treatment because they face social stigma on account of being HIV/AIDS infected orbeing dependent on drugs. Therefore, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and NACO need to work together in close coordination and cooperation with each other. 14

15 Difference in Approaches The approach of NACO is Harm Reduction in which it keeps its target group away from the threat of HIV and AIDS. Harm reduction technique include distribution of syringes among IDUs and thereafter going for Opiate Substitute Therapy (OST)underwhichIDUsaremotivatedtotakedrugorally instead of injecting it through syringes. For an IDU the objective and work of NACO ends once a person opts for a separate syringe and thereafter shifts to oral drugs through OST. The approach of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is Drug Demand Reduction and Whole Person Recovery (WPR) through abstinence. Therefore, the focus and work of Ministryi of Social Justice and Empowerment continues till the person is completely drug free. MSJE s goal is Whole Person Recovery, that means the person not only shifts from intravenous drugs to oral drugs but the addict should be motivated to keep a complete abstinence from drugs. 15

16 Two approaches for dealing IDUs There are two schools of thoughts as to how to deal with the IDUs. One believes in the abstinence only approach and the other which advocates harm reduction approach. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which advocate 'abstinence only' approach believe that if an IDU is to be saved from infections, the only option is to deaddict him. Contrary to the above the advocates of harm reduction approach argue that if the IDUs cannot be de addicteddd d he should at least be saved from infections by helping him to abuse the drugs safely. There are strong advocates of boththe schools of thoughtsht and even the nations are divided between the two approaches. 16

17 National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Although, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment advocates the "abstinence only" approach, but the National Policy on 'National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances' brought out by the Ministry of Finance (Revenue) has recommended a balanced approach in which harm reduction has been accepted as intermediate step and ultimate aim is abstinence. 17

18 Possible Areas of Collaboration between MSJE and NACO MSJE with the help of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) is carrying out an advanced pilot survey in the State of Punjab, Manipur and Maharashtra on the trends and pattern of drug abuse. NACO can play an important role in providing necessary support in identification and reaching to the hidden population of drug dependent persons. It is pertinent to mention that NACO is already extending its hl help inthis matter. NACO isoneof the members in the Central Coordination Committee constituted for the purpose of coordinating the Advance Pilot Survey 18

19 Possible Areas of Collaboration between MSJE and NACO contd. NACO under its Targeted Intervention (TI) is working for high risk groups like injecting drug users (IDUs), menhaving sex with men (MSM), femalesex workers(fsws)etc.msjeisimplementinga Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse under which financial assistance is provided, inter alia, to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies etc. for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) to provide composite/integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts. 19

20 Possible Areas of Collaboration between MSJE and NACO Contd The IDUs not only need protection against HIV but also drug treatment & rehabilitation services as well as other services lk like treatment of complications / co morbidities, ART, legal protection, psycho social py support, etc. for holistic recovery Additionally, IDUs frequently use other substances both while injecting as well as after giving up injecting for which they may require detoxification. Since some of these services, detoxification and rehabilitation services, are offered by MoSJE supported IRCAs, establishment of effective referral linkages between IDU TIs and IRCAs should be explored. 20

21 Possible Areas of Collaboration between MSJE and NACO contd Similarly for other vulnerable and key target groups of NACO like Sex Workers, MSM, Transgender and PLHIV who are being reached through various services by NACO can also be referred for services being provided through IRCAs under the MinistryofSocialJusticeandEmpowerment. HIV risks should be addressed among all substance users through preventive risk reduction reduction messaging on HIV /STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) as part of the demand reduction services offered by IRCAs and by linking them with other HIV services like Integrated Counselling & Testing Centres (ICTC), Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART), etc. 21

22 Possible Areas of Collaboration between MSJE and NACO contd Migrant workers and truckers are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS as well as alcohol and drugs. Therefore, NACO and MSJE can work in close coordination for this targett group. Targeted Interventions (TIs) supported by NACO and IRCAs supported by MSJE should work in close coordination and cooperation with each other so that the objectives of both NACO as well as MSJE are achieved and public at large is benefitted. Rf ReferralServices bt between IRCA and TIs needs to be strengthened 22

23 Thank you 23