Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF)

It is now established that India has a huge problem of substance use disorders (or addictions). Number of people who need help for harmful use or dependence on alcohol and other drugs run into crores, as shown in the recent report – Magnitude of Substance Use in India . Only a miniscule proportion of these are able to access treatment services indicating a wide treatment gap.

India is a signatory to (a) the Three International Drug Conventions of United Nations, (b) the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (outcome document) as well as a host of other international instruments. Thus, Government of India is obliged to provide adequate coverage with treatment services to all the citizens affected by substance use disorders. Providing treatment to people affected by addiction is the mandate of two ministries of Government of India: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), which is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction- and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW). So far, the MoH&FW has been providing treatment services through the Government Health care facilities (Central government/State governments), while the MoSJE has been providing these services through the civil society organizations/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). 

In order to further enhance the avenues for drug demand reduction in the country, MoSJE has launched an ambitious “National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).’ Among the many components of NAPDDR is one under which MoSJE envisages financial assistance to Government Health Care facilities for providing treatment services for substance use disorders. For this purpose, MoSJE has identified NDDTC, AIIMS as the National Coordination and Resource Institution for Addiction Treatment Facility.

Due to the presence of the district's location, the illicit use of opioid is extremely prominent within the district causing high influx of illegal substances from the Myanmar border. To counter the problem of rampant illicit use of illegal substances and alcohol in the district, Addiction Treatment Facility Centre, District Hospital Champhai has been initiated under the department & has been functioning actively on OPD basis since November, 2024 through National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt of India. The facility aims to provide services for patients using drugs and alcohol and improve functioning within their family, work and community lives. Types of addiction treatment can vary depending upon the type of substances being used, individual medical and mental health needs, as well as other social issues. Currently outpatient treatment services are available which is mostly focused on counseling and providing medications to the patients with substance use disorders.

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