3.4 lakh drug users de-addicted in three years: Minister

New Delhi, March 15: Around 340,000 people have benefited from drug de-addiction centres in the country over the last three years, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napolean said Monday.

"The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the scheme of assistance for prevention of alcoholism and substance (drugs) abuse is financially assisting the eligible organisations for running 401 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCA) all over the country," Napolean informed the Lok Sabha.

"Furthermore, the ministry of health and family welfare has established 122 drug de-addiction centres in government hospitals. It also provides financial assistance to eligible organisations, including NGOs, for running de-addiction centres to provide integrated services for rehabilitation of addicts, including youth," he added.

Of the total de-addiction centres across the country, 36 have been sanctioned in the last three years. Seven of them are located in Madhya Pradesh alone.

"About 340,000 persons have benefited through these de-addiction centres in the last three years," Napolean said.

On the role of NGOs, he said: "Reputed NGOs with adequate experience and good track record are designated as Regional Resource and Training Centres and are financially assisted for capacity building and skill development for service providers at the regional level."