International Drug Abuse Day and Inauguration of Addiction Treatment Facility

Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) Clinic was inaugurated by Principal GMC Baramulla *Dr. (Prof) Ruby Reshi* on the Occasion of *International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.* The Department of Psychiatry GMC Baramulla held a series of events to celebrate the day. On Saturday 25th of June 2022, the Department of Psychiatry in Collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine organized an outreach Awareness cum Screening camp at UTHC Bagh-i-Islam Baramulla. The participants were also screened for any problem related to Drug Abuse. The ASHA workers and other staff of the PHC were sensitized about Drug Abuse and how to identify people who are at risk or consuming drugs. On Monday 27th June the Department of Psychiatry organized a Seminar Competition among MBBS students on Drug Abuse. The seminar was attended by faculty members and the students. Speaking on the occasion Principal GMC Baramulla gave a brief overview of the De Addiction Facilities at GMC Baramulla and stressed the need for further such program on larger platform including all the stake holders. * “Drug abuse is a multi faceted problem that needs a multi pronged strategy to tackle, taking conceptual and practical tools from the discipline of medicine, psychology and sociology”, * Principal Dr Ruby Reshi said. Senior Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Akash Khan, Chairman CASS Union Prof. Altaf Hussain Shera also spoke on the occasion. ATF is an OPD based clinic dedicated to the patients with Substance Use Disorder on all working days. It is funded by MoSJE and implemented by NDDTC AIIMS New Delhi. This will provide a lot of relief to the patients of North Kashmir who had to go to Srinagar otherwise. Issued by Department of Psychiatry GMC Baramulla.