The convicts serving their prison terms for drug-related cases in Lungzor District Prison in Trashigang will now attend the Prison-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Care Programme. The PEMA Secretariat inaugurated the Prison-Based SUD Treatment and Care programme in collaboration with the Royal Bhutan Police last week.
There are 43 inmates who were sentenced for drug-related cases at Lungzor District Prison.
They will now attend a peer-led 12 steps-programme. That includes counseling, Sorig Zhiney and Luejong, and vocational skills training.
“In the past, I was abusing substances and was just roaming. I did not get any advice. But now with the programme, we will benefit. I would like to thank Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen for providing such an opportunity,” said an inmate of Lungzor District Prison.
“The programme gives us a platform to change ourselves. Moreover, attending the programme will not make us feel like we are inmates,” said another inmate.
The programme aims to reduce repeated offenders and help them become productive and responsible citizens after serving their prison terms.
“We have something called the peer lead. That means those who have undergone counseling and rehabilitation will take the lead. We have selected seven individuals and trained them for three days. So, we taught them what they will have to do during phase one and phase two,” said Dorji Tshering, Chief Programme Officer of The PEMA Secretariat.
He added they will monitor the programme every two to three months.
A similar kind of programme was also started at Chamgang Central Prison in Thimphu last year.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
