Govt expands rehab network as addiction outpaces treatment access

In a major push to tackle rising drug addiction and ensure access to treatment, the government has launched an initiative to set up seven public rehabilitation hospitals in divisional cities outside Dhaka.

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs will implement the project.

The project includes the construction of 200-bed hospitals equipped with modern medical infrastructure, trained personnel, and long-term rehabilitation programmes.

It also complements ongoing efforts to modernise existing facilities, including the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Dhaka.

In an exclusive interview with BSS at his office on Thursday (16 April), Additional Director General (Joint Secretary) of the DNC, Mohammad Golam Azam, said, "Once the designs of the rehabs are finalised, the tendering process will begin. If funds are released on time, construction work is expected to commence in the next fiscal year, with a target to complete the project by 2028."

Regarding the cost of the project, Azam, who is also the project director in charge, revealed that the total estimated cost of the initiative has been earmarked at Tk1,433 crore.

In this connection, he said land acquisition has begun in all seven divisions.

"Around Tk143 crore is required for land acquisition, but only Tk32 crore has been released so far, which is insufficient to complete the process within the current fiscal year," he said.

He added that a proposal seeking Tk420 crore has been submitted to the relevant authorities to complete the land acquisition process on time.

Azam said that the Department of Architecture has completed preliminary designs and sent them to the Public Works Department, where structural design work is ongoing.

"Each hospital, having 200 beds, will be able to treat around 1,000 to 1,200 patients at a time through phased counselling and rehabilitation. Around 140 staff members, including physicians, psychiatrists, and counsellors, will be recruited under the project," he said.

Regarding treatment, he said it will combine medication with mental health support, reflecting a shift towards treating addiction as a psychological condition.

Talking to BSS, Deputy Secretary (Planning-2) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Alimun Razib, said, "We have already selected land in Rajshahi city and are looking to identify suitable sites in the other six divisional cities across the country."

He added that a Public Works Department plot has been selected in Rajshahi, with an estimated cost of Tk144 crore for the land.

Dhaka has been excluded from this initiative, as a separate project has already been undertaken for the capital.

However, the project's progress was reviewed at a Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting on 6 April at the Ministry of Home Affairs, with participation from multiple departments to ensure coordination and timely implementation.

Alongside the government initiative, there are currently 402 approved private rehabilitation centres operating across the country.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over drug addiction.

A national study presented at Bangladesh Medical University found that about 82 lakh people (4.88% of the population) use one or more drugs, but only 13% receive treatment or rehabilitation, leaving 87% outside care.

The study, conducted between February and June 2025 across 13 districts and 26 upazilas, surveyed 5,280 individuals using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

It found that more than half of users have attempted to quit at some point, but most failed due to a lack of quality treatment, counselling, and social and financial support.

Young people are particularly at risk: 33% of users started between the ages of 8 and 17, while 59% began between 18 and 25. Dhaka division has the highest number of users (22.87 lakh), followed by Chattogram (18.79 lakh) and Rangpur (10.80 lakh), while Barishal has the lowest (4.04 lakh).

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug, with about 61 lakh users, followed by methamphetamine (yaba) at around 23 lakh and alcohol at about 20 lakh.

Other substances include codeine-based cough syrups, sleeping pills, and heroin.

Around 39,000 people use injectable drugs, putting them at high risk of HIV and hepatitis.

Researchers revealed that while drug use is more prevalent in urban areas, it is spreading rapidly in rural regions.

Key drivers include unemployment, peer influence, financial instability, family conflict, and mental stress.

About 90% of users reported that drugs are easily available.

Experts and officials stressed the need for coordinated action to reduce both supply and demand, expand access to treatment, and protect young people, noting that social stigma and fear of reputational damage continue to discourage many families from seeking help.