The Department of Rehabilitation has announced that it has chalked up many achievements this year but also highlighted some challenges encountered along the way.
Based on a report by San Sophal, Director General of the Department of Rehabilitation, it provided training on treatment and rehabilitation to 120 people and sent 75 centre leaders and officials for training at the National Authority for Combatting Drugs (NACD). An additional 30 centre leaders and officials were sent to study in Vietnam.
The report was presented during the department’s annual meting to summarise the 2024 results of drug user treatment and rehabilitation and set future directions.
Sophal said that the department also conducted quality assessments of services and monitored the progress of work at 20 treatment and rehabilitation centres. It organised exhibitions to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse, involving four state centres and four private centres, as well as developing and implementing various standards related to procedures for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users.
The director general highlighted challenges and said, “There is no information technology system in place to verify and manage data on drug users across the various treatment and rehabilitation centres. There is also a lack of funding to develop reintegration plans and monitor cases.”
He also suggested that the heads of private drug treatment and rehabilitation centres assess the feasibility of establishing specific policies to assist impoverished victims, orphans, and the destitute by providing treatment and rehabilitation services free of charge, with a humanitarian approach. This would represent their contribution to implementing the government’s policies.
The Department of Rehabilitation will continue to collaborate with relevant institutions and entities to organise capacity-building training courses for officials of drug treatment and rehabilitation centres.
Efforts will be also made to strengthen the capacity of voluntary and community-based drug treatment and rehabilitation centres.
