Police Major Kyee Tin is, strictly speaking, correct when he says that people with addictions who inform the police that they have an addiction will not be arrested. They will be sent to a detox centre. If they refuse to go, then they will be arrested.

At least that was the situation a couple of years ago. Has anything changed?

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Helping addicts quit drugs
Thet Hlaing
Myanmar Times

MOST people are aware of efforts by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control to eliminate narcotics supplies and demand through a wide range of strategies, but few know that it also has programs to help addicts stop using drugs.

“Many addicts and their families believe that addicts will be arrested if they tell the police that they want to stop using drugs,” said an assistant director from CCDAC, Police Major Kyee Tin.

He added that even some government officials assume that addicts who tell the police they need help will be treated like criminals.

Police Major Kyee Tin called on people who know that the committee can provide help to share the information with addicts.

“If more people know about the programs, especially in high-risk areas, it will strengthen the CCDAC’s efforts to eliminate the use of narcotic drugs,” he said.

Because many people live in areas that are out of contact with centres where addicts can go for help, however, the CCDAC’s law enforcement efforts remain crucial, Police Major Kyee Tin said.

Meanwhile, the CCDAC has been cooperating with various non-government organisations in high-risk areas, such as the towns of Muse and Lashio in Shan State, to help addicts get to centres where they can get help, he said.

Police Major Kyee Tin said there are a variety of successful treatment methods available, including psychological counseling and detoxification programs, the latter of which are medically supervised programs that gradually wean an individual from a drug over a period of days or weeks.

http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes16-309/n014.htm