New Rehabilitation Center in Unawatuna for female drug addicts

COLOMBO (News 1st): A decision has been reached to set up a Rehabilitation Center in Unawatuna, Galle to facilitate the rehabilitation of female drug addicts, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) said on Thursday (Jul. 22). At present, the only Rehabilitation Centre for females who are addicted to the use of narcotic substances is situated in the Koswatta area in Thalangama; there are currently six women undergoing rehabilitation at the centre, Dr. Priyangi Amarabandu, the Chairperson of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) told News 1st. According to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, there are 4265 females addicted to the use of various narcotic substances in Sri Lanka. Among them, 1564 are addicted to the use of Cannabis and 1384 females are addicted to the use of Heroin. As per the data available, 23,566 females are addicted to Tobacco in the country. The new Rehabilitation Center in Unawatuna will be established as there is an increasing trend in the rate of females addicted to the use of narcotics, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB ) said.