632 arrests since early 2012 for drug offenses
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The National Agency for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of substance Abuses (NATReSA) will be completely restructured. This has been announced on Monday, June 25 by the Minister of Health and Quality of Life at the auditorium Octave Wiehé, Reduit, as part of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, held on Tuesday, June 26. 632 people have been arrested for drug offenses during the early months of 2012.
Lormus Bundhoo alleged that a study on NATReSA’s operation is currently in progress and the report will be shortly issued.
Gerard Lesage, president of NATReSA, asserts that the mission of this organization will not change, meaning he believes the fight against drugs will continue.
He noted that there have been five campaigns on drug prevention since this year. “We do not only wait for World Day against Drugs to organize campaigns. They are ‘on going’ and being carried out at the workplace and in schools,” said Gerard Lesage.
The latter, as well as the health minister, are delighted to note that public awareness campaigns and other initiatives undertaken in recent years are beginning to show positive signs. “In recent years, the numbers of HIV-positive people have decreased significantly, from 900 in 2005 to 401 in 2011,” said Lormus Bundhoo. Needle exchange programs and drug addiction treatment with methadone are the projects leading to positive results.
The police are also contributing in this struggle. Each year, arrests related to drug trafficking are increasing. 632 people have been arrested during the early months of 2012. In 2011, the number of arrests amounted to 1,910. Finally, the government is working on the implementation of a National Drug Control Master Plan to tackle this problem more efficiently.
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