A report made to the State Hluttaw [Parliament] held on December 16th, revealed that more funding is needed to implement drug abuse prevention programs in Mon State.
“About 16 organizations are working on various programs to combat drug abuse. Those organizations have been working on this issue since 1993, but there have not been many activities completed due to funding limitations. Without funding, most projects cannot be implemented. If there is stable funding to address the drug issue, we will be able to work on it on a larger scale,” said Daw Moe Moe Thu, a lawyer who submitted the report.
Daw Moe Moe Thu added that she gathered the information on drug use in prisons, schools, and other environments. The majority of drug users are in prisons and jails. Punishment alone is not enough to reduce drug use. The report also calls for legislative and judicial consequences targeting drug dealers. As a result, the report has been directed to Hluttaw representatives for discussion.
The state government has no budget allocation for the implementation of a drug risk reduction program. Most drug addicts rely on treatment options either paid for at their own expense or family support, according to the Hluttaw representative’s discussion.
“Budget is the major problem at the moment. The budget must be allocated by the Union government. However, one thing we can do now is to discourage students from using drugs by arranging sports or reading activities. The plan should be possible if we consult with the Union government,” said U Min Htin Aung Han, a state Hluttaw representative from Mawlamyine township.
Phar Aout’s village Administrator in Mawlamyine Township, U Yan Naung Lin expressed his concern, that because the number of young drug users is increasing, greater efforts must be made to combat drug abuse, despite current budget limits.
There are four key messages that organizations are calling for to reduce drug abuse.
1) Improve collaboration between the government, Hluttaw and communities.
2) Include diverse communities in drug abuse awareness campaigns.
3) Increase public health services.
4) Increase funding to drug abuse awareness and treatment programs.
