Agartala: The Tripura government on Saturday inaugurated 18 opioid substitution therapy (OST) centres across primary health centres in West Tripura district.
The initiative, inspired by Punjab’s successful OAAT (Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment) model, aims to rehabilitate drug abuse victims through a combination of counselling and medical intervention.
The OST centres will be jointly operated by the West Tripura district administration and the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS).
According to an official release, training for medical personnel has already been completed, and service delivery is now underway.
Speaking at the launch, Acting Zilla Sabhadhipati of West Tripura Zilla Parishad, Biswajit Shil, said, “The government is committed to rehabilitating those affected by drug abuse. A multi-pronged approach is being adopted to eliminate this growing menace.”
In a departure from conventional models, the newly launched OST centres are fully funded by the state government, unlike existing facilities run by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and TSACS.
Tripura has had a history of proactive HIV/AIDS response since the late 1990s, with services for injecting drug users (IDUs) introduced in 2011.
Currently, the state has an estimated 10,500 IDUs. As of January 2025, 5,520 individuals have accessed services under the OST programme, with 612 successfully completing treatment and reintegrating into society, the statement noted.
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Alongside treatment, the government is intensifying its focus on awareness campaigns. Nearly 15.56 lakh people have been reached through various information, education, and communication (IEC) efforts, including programmes conducted in 220 schools across the state.
Officials reiterated that the combined approach of treatment, awareness, and community engagement is vital to curbing drug dependency and its associated health and social impacts.
