National Narcotics Control Bureau

Invitation:
Become a mentor for a recovering addict

A mentor is a ‘friend and philosopher’ who guides and helps a drug addict to recover from his addiction and remain clean. Why is a mentor so important?

To understand this one must follow the genesis of an addict. It is a tiring journey that begins as a beloved child at home and ends as a shunned outcast on the streets. At that point he has no friends or family to give support, only others like him who encourage his drug habit.

In an addicts life there are many occasions when he/she really wants to give up and start a new life. But more often than not his efforts end in failure. This is partly because he is not accepted back into the trust of his family and good friends. Ultimately he slips back to the company of his addict friends.

A mentor could help break this cycle. Any responsible citizen who wishes to help an addict to recover and give him time can become a mentor.

NNCB invites citizens interested in becoming mentors to come forward.

Our contact: 331 2018

The Challenge

Illicit drugs are a global impediment to the social and economic development of nations. The impact of the drug scourge has been particularly severe on the Maldives, threatening her prosperity, good health, and indeed her whole future.

In the past decade we have intensified our efforts to stop the drug menace. But we, as a nation, need to do even more to ensure that criminals, who put their own interests before those of the nation, do not take our common heritage away from us.

The lesson we learn from other countries is that drug abuse is a hydra-like multifaceted issue. It requires a balanced well-coordinated multi-sectoral approach, encompassing measures to stop illicit drugs from entering the country and to reduce the demand for them. Both these aspects are equally important and need to be given the same, high priority.

We, therefore, call upon all Maldivians, as indeed the international community, to support fully our efforts to eliminate the scourge of illicit drugs from the Maldives and beyond our borders. This is the challenge and we must commit ourselves to this challenge.