Sopore, Feb 16: Sopore in north Kashmir gets its own drug de-addiction centre, with officials saying the facility will strengthen the subdivision’s response to substance abuse and expand access to treatment facilities.
The facility was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Minga Sherpa, who said the centre was sanctioned earlier and completed in record time by the Rural Development Department.
He said the district already has a treatment facility at Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla and a facility run by the police. However, Sopore lacked such infrastructure, forcing patients to travel outside the subdivision for medical care.
“With this centre, people from Sopore and nearby areas will have access to screening and basic treatment locally,” Sherpa said.
The DC said the Government of India (GoI) had proposed setting up the facility in Sopore. The administration, he said, will now equip the centre in phases and post additional staff to make it fully operational.
“Efforts will be made to provide recovery and treatment services at the new facility, including indoor patient care in the future, so that patients do not have to depend entirely on GMC Baramulla,” DC Sherpa added.
The facility was a long-pending demand of the people, especially families grappling with substance abuse cases—(KNO)
