National agency for the treatment and rehabilitation of substance abusers

<B> A tenth rehabilitation centre has just been opened. Does this imply that the situation in Mauritius is worsening?</B>

The latest centre was started up due to an increase in the demand for rehabilitation of substance abusers. We treat about 1,000 people per year, but we have long waiting lists. The centres and the detoxification programmes vary and we need to cater for different regions. The Ayurveda Centre in Calebasses is mainly for substance abusers of the North, but patients from other regions can also be treated if they need to. What is interesting is that the rehabilitation through medicinal plants means there is no use of chemical substitutes, which can be addictive. We have noticed that the situation is worsening and that more young people are trying out drugs. To discover new sensations or rise to a challenge, they start with alcohol and cigarettes, which can lead to cannabis and eventually heroine.

<B>What has been done to reduce drug impact?</B>

We have set up a National youth taskforce covering the nine districts, Rodrigues and correctional centres. Groups of teenagers are trained to promote healthy activities in their localities. These alcohol free and drug free activities are done in close collaboration with the ministry of Youth and Sports. The National Prevention Unit is present in 27 regions around the island. We stay in one area for about 3 months and organise talks with the support of other stakeholders like the Trust Fund for Vulnerable Groups, the AIDS secretariat, etc. These talks deal not only with drugs and alcohol, but also with aspects such as social integration and the development of their social and economic environment. We are also including programs on HIV/AIDS and the risks of contamination by sharing syringes and risks to their partners.

<B>What remains to be done to ensure that future generations are better protected? </B>

Information is the top priority. Educating at an early age is a way of warning against any type of drug. Although we campaign in colleges, we would like information about drugs to be included at primary level. In collaboration with the Catholic Education Bureau we have worked on a teacher manual to help identify students at risk or showing early signs of drug abuse so that counselling starts early. Moreover, information campaigns and empowerment training of heads, teachers and non-teaching staff are also carried out with the collaboration of the ministry and the PSSA.