Experts Advocate for Paradigm Shift in Addiction Treatment, Emphasizing Community-Based Care
On June 25, 2026, Prothom Alo Trust organized its 178th online consultation meeting to address drug abuse, coinciding with International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event, held at Prothom Alo's office, featured child and adolescent psychiatrist Professor Dr. Helal Ahmed, who discussed innovations in addiction treatment. The central theme was 'Global Drug Problem: Ongoing Crisis, New Challenges, and Innovative Outcomes.'
Dr. Ahmed highlighted a crucial 'paradigm shift' in societal perception as the primary innovation. He argued that viewing drug users as criminals, rather than patients suffering from a chronic mental and physical disorder, hinders progress. Just as individuals with physical ailments are not expelled from university or employment, those with addiction should not be ostracized. Compassion and treating addiction as an illness are essential for any effective innovation to emerge.
A second significant innovation discussed was community-based treatment (CBT). Dr. Ahmed critiqued traditional rehabilitation models that involve lengthy confinement in centers, deeming them potentially violative of human rights. Modern approaches advocate for treating individuals within their families and communities, allowing them to maintain jobs and studies. This community-integrated model, successfully implemented in countries like Thailand and Japan, is presented as a more effective and humane alternative. He stressed that leveraging Bangladesh's strong social cohesion, evident during crises like floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, could foster a similar collective effort to support individuals with addiction within their social fabric.
The discussion underscores a critical shift from punitive to therapeutic approaches in addiction management. The proposed 'paradigm shift' challenges the ingrained societal view of drug users as criminals, advocating instead for a public health perspective that recognizes addiction as a treatable illness. This reframing is essential for reducing stigma and encouraging individuals to seek help. Furthermore, the emphasis on community-based treatment over institutional confinement aligns with modern therapeutic principles that prioritize social integration and patient autonomy. By keeping individuals connected to their support networks and daily lives, this model aims to improve long-term recovery outcomes and reduce the human rights concerns associated with prolonged institutionalization. The success of such models hinges on robust community engagement and systemic support structures, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to addiction care.
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