Union Minister to Inaugurate 41 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) to Combat Substance Abuse

New Delhi: In a significant move to address the growing challenge of substance abuse, Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, is set to virtually inaugurate 41 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) on February 8. The inauguration ceremony, scheduled to take place at DAIC, New Delhi, will witness the presence of Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment.

The initiative is part of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), a comprehensive program aimed at curbing the menace of drug demand. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India, provides financial assistance to State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, and NGOs/VOs for various initiatives under NAPDDR. These include preventive education and awareness generation, capacity building, skill development, vocational training, and livelihood support for ex-drug addicts.

As part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), currently operational in all districts of the country, special emphasis is placed on creating awareness about the ill effects of substance abuse, particularly among the youth. The NMBA focuses on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools, and community outreach to garner involvement and ownership of the campaign at the grassroots level.

Under the NMBA, the establishment of Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in government hospitals is a crucial step. The Ministry, in coordination with the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS, New Delhi, has identified 125 districts in the country for the establishment of ATFs. This program is being scaled up, with the ministry engaging with state governments and district administrations to identify suitable hospitals for setting up ATFs.

This initiative follows the earlier dedication of 25 ATFs to the nation on February 9, 2023, in a ceremony held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Dr. Virendra Kumar, along with Minister of State for Home, Shri Nityanand Rai, and Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri A. Narayanaswamy, presided over the dedication ceremony, reinforcing the government’s commitment to combat substance abuse and promote a healthier society.