Summary:
The number of drug addicts who got themselves registered at the OOAT clinic this year halved as compared to the previous year when the programme was launched by the state government. Interestingly, while the number of enrolment has been declining at the OOAT centre, the Health Department is planning to introduce two more OOAT clinics in the district. Drug addicts were brought to the clinics by police personnel, DAPO volunteers and a few addicts visited voluntarily after the scheme was propagated (through media coverage) extensively. The Drug Abuse Prevention Officers (DAPOs) act as a link between the OOAT centres and drug addicts. Their responsibility is to convince drug addicts/parents to get their treatment done at these centres..