In a significant step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and addressing the growing challenge of substance abuse, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, today inaugurated the newly constructed Drug De-Addiction Centre at Sopore.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Iftkhar Talib; Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore; Assistant Commissioner Development Baramulla; Chief Planning Officer Baramulla; Chief Medical Officer Baramulla; Sub Divisional Police Officer Sopore; Block Development Officer Sopore; Block Medical Officer Sopore, among other officers.
While inaugurating the facility constructed at the cost of Rs 44 Lakh, the DC appreciated the efforts of the Rural Development Department (RDD) and RDD Block Sopore for completing the project in a record time. The DC further added that establishing such a centre was a long-pending demand of the people of Sub Division Sopore, which has now been fulfilled by RDD Block Sopore.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC stated that the Drug De-Addiction Centre at Sopore is the first of its kind in Sub Division Sopore which will provide a comprehensive range of community-based services including identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction treatment, aftercare, and rehabilitation.
The DC further said that the facility will be expanded in a phased manner to cater to the increasing needs of the district informing that proposal for additional staff has already been submitted to ensure smooth and effective functioning of the centre.
Meanwhile, the DC emphasized that the facility was the need of the hour and will significantly help in combating drug abuse in the region. He highlighted that the centre will also serve as a nodal hub for awareness generation and preventive education campaigns across the district to sensitize youth and the community about the ill effects of substance abuse.