Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) have launched a drug rehabilitation program for detainees for the first time.

MCS launched that rehabilitation program in a special event held at Maafushi Prison this Sunday. The program was launched by the Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla.

This program will be kicked off by enrolling 40 detainees who were sentenced due to drug abuse. The participants will be given treatment functioning to detox and will be rehabilitated to be able to behave as a fully functioning adult when they are reinstated to the public. They will be given vocational training and taught life skills.

The new program launched by MCS includes four levels.

The first level of the program is 21 days long program. During this level, the detainees will be given treatments functioning to detoxification.

The second level is where the rehabilitation of the detainees start. They will be given Psycho-social support, vocational and skill training. They will also be taught life and job skills. MCS informs that religious awareness programs will also be conducted for the participants during this level.

During the level of the rehabilitation program a risk assessment will be conducted. This is to determine the risk factors before allowing the detainees back in to the society under parole. Probing will also be done to find out job opportunities for the participants.

The fourth level of the program is the after care stage. The participants who are introduced back to the society under parole will be monitored during this stage.

Speaking at the event held to launch the rehabilitation program, Minister Imran stated that the introduction of this drug rehabilitation program is the result of a lot of hard work and that this program will help immensely to cleanse the Maldivian society of the drug addiction. He added that this would benefit the detainees, their families and the whole society.

Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem who attended the even said that this rehabilitation program is an important step that was taken in cleansing the Maldivian society of drugs.

Commissioner of Prisons, Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu highlighted that this new rehabilitation program will be more diverse than the previously ongoing programs.

He also announced that more rehabilitation programs are being designed. These include, sexual offenders program, juvenile rehabilitation program, a general rehabilitation program as well as a deradicalization program.