Health Dept launches OOAT centres for drug addicts

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, October 26

The Out Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) Clinics for de-addiction of drug addicts were launched here today. Officials of the Health Department stated that a total of nine OOAT clinics would be run in the district.

Earlier, the opioid substitute therapy (OST) for drug addicts was available only at the centre at the Government Medical College. Officials said with coming up of OOAT centres at all community health centres in the district, it would be easier for persons hooked to drugs to get their daily dose.

The Lok Sabha member, Gurjit Singh Aujla, along with the Civil Surgeon, Dr Narinder Kaur, and the Government Medical College Principal, Dr Tejbir Singh, launched the new centres during a function here today.

Aujla said, “Such centres are being opened in Tarn Taran and Moga districts, besides Amritsar.”

Deputy Medical Commissioner, Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, said centres would remain open for seven days a week. He said patients could get free of cost medicine from 9 am to 3 pm at these centres.

Trained doctors at centres would conduct urine screening of addicts before putting them on medicine, she added. The dose of the medicine — Buprinorphine with NalaXone — for patient would be assessed by doctors on the basis of daily drug consumption, she said.

Dr Prabhdeep said medicine would be decreased gradually so that patient was fully de-addicted. Dr Narinder Kaur said, “OOAT centres in rural areas will ensure that drug addicts do not miss their dose and have enough time to attend to their profession.”

She said the working of all the centers would be coordinated from Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre.

Patients would have to consume medicine in presence of the health staff and they would not be allowed to take it home, she added.