Maldives to Conduct Study on Drugs and Substance Abuse to Guide Rehabilitation Programmes
The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology is preparing to launch a pilot study aimed at identifying the types of drugs currently used in the Maldives.
The initiative is intended to gather updated data on drug consumption trends to support the development of more effective treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
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A similar survey was last carried out in 2022. However, the Ministry believes there is an urgent need for a new assessment, as patterns of drug and substance abuse have evolved significantly over recent years.
The Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology, who also serves as Chairperson of the National Drug Agency (NDA), Lubna Zahir, stated that around a decade ago, heroin and cannabis were the most prevalent drugs among users. In recent years, however, there has been a shift towards synthetic or chemical substances.
According to Lubna, most drug users now test positive for more than three types of drugs, with some individuals testing positive for as many as seven to nine substances. She said this presented a significant challenge for treatment providers and underlined the need to tailor treatment and rehabilitation programmes to the specific profiles of drug users.
To facilitate the new study, testing facilities have been enhanced. Lubna noted that urine testing panels can now detect up to 14 types of narcotics simultaneously, which will be used for the upcoming research.
The pilot study aims to collect information from a sample of around 1,000 individuals. Initially, samples will be collected and studied from approximately 150 people, with the full study testing between 500 and 1,000 individuals. The participants will include both patients currently undergoing NDA treatment as well as individuals selected through random sampling.
Doctors, nurses and counsellors will support the effort. Lubna stated that the findings would help authorities refine existing programmes and take targeted action to reduce the risk of drug overdoses in the country.
