Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha informed the Assembly today that as of January 2025, a total of 5,520 injection drug users have received treatment at Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centers across the state. Of these, 612 individuals have successfully completed treatment and reintegrated into mainstream society, leading healthier lives.
Dr. Saha, who also serves as the state’s Health Minister, made this statement in response to a notice raised by MLA Gopal Chandra Roy during the Assembly’s reference period. He highlighted the extensive efforts undertaken by the Tripura AIDS Control Society between April 2024 and January 2025 to combat HIV and substance abuse through awareness campaigns and medical interventions.
Comprehensive Awareness Initiatives
Under the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) program, a district-level sensitization campaign on HIV/AIDS was conducted, targeting 220 schools identified as high-risk zones for injecting drug use. The initiative engaged school principals, head teachers, and headmistresses to enhance awareness and prevention strategies.
To expand outreach, an intensive IEC campaign was carried out across the state from August to October 2024, directly engaging 15,56,689 individuals across 663 villages, 401 schools, 36 colleges, and 140 public locations. Additionally, specialized awareness programs on HIV/AIDS and injecting drug abuse were organized for Corporators and Zilla Parishad members in Agartala Municipal Council under the West Tripura district.
In January 2025, public awareness messages related to HIV/AIDS and injecting drug abuse were prominently displayed on 21 LED screens managed by the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) Department across the state.
Expansion of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centers
Dr. Saha announced that three new satellite OST centers were established in the Dhalai and South Tripura districts between September 2024 and January 2025. These centers provide oral substitution therapy to intravenous drug users, helping reduce the incidence of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C caused by needle sharing.
Furthermore, 18 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the West district and Urban PHCs have been approved for conversion into OST centers. These facilities will follow the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OAAT) model, successfully implemented in Punjab, to provide comprehensive de-addiction therapy. Training for health institution staff has been completed, and implementation is currently underway.
At present, Tripura operates seven stand-alone OST centers supported by the National AIDS Control Agency and 19 satellite OST centers managed by the state government. These centers play a vital role in rehabilitating injection drug users and integrating them into society.
Reiterating the state’s commitment to public health, Dr. Saha emphasized that the government’s proactive measures aim to curb the rise of substance abuse and its associated health risks while fostering a healthier and more informed community.
