By: Nabila Rashid
SEREMBAN, Oct 3, 2023 – The District Drug Rehabilitation Treatment Committee (JKPD), Peer Counselors (PRS) and Recovery Mentors formed by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) are the most important groups in helping and guiding clients in recovery.
Director General of NADA, Mr. Sutekno Ahmad Belon said, not only that, the groups act as an agent of change for the local community in an effort to help get job opportunities or training spaces, participate in rehabilitation treatment activities, and become role models and volunteers which promote rehabilitation treatment services to the community.
Furthermore, he called on the group to carry out voluntary work in the field of drug rehabilitation treatment in order to organize strategies to help prevent relapse and curb drug addiction in the community through the latest, friendly, and effective approaches.
“This support group is an important component because there are only 0.00016% of NADA officers in Negeri Sembilan which totals to 200 people compared to the entire population of Negeri Sembilan which is 1.2 million people. There are also only 60 rehabilitation officers compared to the total number of 1919 rehabilitation treatment clients in the community in Negeri Sembilan with a ratio of 1:32.
“The group service is very essential to be able to help affected clients directly and indirectly as well as to ensure that all target groups experience NADA’s services,” he said.
He said this when officiating Negeri Sembilan Symposium and Rehabilitation Graduation here, today.
Moreover, Mr. Sutekno said, the program is symbolic and a sign of recognition for individuals and groups who are very active in rehabilitation treatment programs in the community, State and District.
“I offer my appreciation and thanks to all the parties for the service and contribution in helping, motivating and supporting the efforts to treat and rehabilitate clients in the state and district.
“Without this support group, it would have been very difficult for NADA to move on its own,” he said.
In the meantime, he added, the role of the family institution acts as the first point of reference for the client in recovery and needs to be given the utmost attention from all parties.
He said families need to be aware of changes in behaviour, emotions and mental stability of family members in order to be able to take early steps to prevent drug addiction activities at home.
“To all the family members present, I call on you to always support and encourage the client to change their way of life to a new, healthy and constructive lifestyle,” he said.
Also present were Negeri Sembilan NADA Director, Dr Hadijah Baba; Member of the Gemencheh Assembly, YB Suhaimizan Bizar and Director of the Jelebu Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Center (PUSPEN), Arzmi Abdullah.
