Vast majority of disabled drug addicts treated 'in-community'

 

PARLIAMENT | The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has been treating a vast majority of the 70,000 persons with disabilities recovering from drug addiction "in-community".

Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said from the 70,000 individuals, only 85 are being treated at AADK rehabilitation centres, selected among those with "physical capabilities".

"We will evaluate the patients. If found with no physical capabilities, they will be treated in-community.

"If they have some physical capabilities, then the treatment will be conducted in a rehabilitation centre," he said during Question Time in Parliament today, without elaborating on the nature of their conditions.

Among AADK centres treating disabled patients include Bukit Chabang, Kedah; Kampung Selamat, Penang; and Benta, Pahang.

Shamsul (above) was responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (Perikatan Nasional-Langkawi) on the number of persons with disabilities in recovery from drug addiction.

When met later, Shamsul explained those being treated in drug rehabilitation centres comprise individuals deemed capable of taking care of themselves.

"Maybe they are deaf or mute. But those who require assistance for basic things like feeding and cleaning themselves, those are the ones being treated at home in their community," he told Malaysiakini.

‘Drug treatment for all’

Suhaimi, who said in the Dewan Rakyat he was informed that AADK rehabilitation centres did not accept the disabled as patients, also asked the minister to state the community's right to receive treatment for drug addiction.

In response, the Lenggong MP said the government through AADK is committed to providing all Malaysians regardless of status with drug addiction treatment, both at 30 rehabilitation centres nationwide as well as in-community.

Shamsul added that the government is looking at upgrading existing rehabilitation facilities and building new centres.

It also targets improving its overall service rather than focusing solely on issues related to the disabled. - Mkini