It has started a pilot project with the first batch of about 50 drug addicts who will be treated in the new de-addition programme called OST (Opioid Substitution Treatment).

According to Tihar Jail officials, the programme is coordinated with the help of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NGOs and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which will help in sending the inmates released on bail to respective de-addiction centres in their area.

“After leaving jail, the inmates used to get back to their old ways. But, now this problem will be given priority,” a senior Tihar Jail official said. In 15 July this year, there were around 1075 drug addicts in Tihar and Rohini Jail.

A senior Tihar Jail official said OST has been very successful in countries like Iran.

“Iranians have apparently been able to rehabilitate drug addicts and also prisoners who are drug addicts. We too are trying to take the help of their model to succeed in our efforts,” he added.

Iran faced a major problem with intravenous drug use resulting in a rise in HIV/AIDS cases, said sources. What is worrying jail authorities is a similar trend in India.

“In Tihar Jail, of 241 drug addicts chosen for treatment, 28 tested positive for HIV, of them 18 were found to be intravenous drug users,” Tihar officials said.

When Newsline visited the newly constructed de-addiction centre in the jail, inmates confessed that syringes are economical and effective for their drug habit.

An inmate lodged for theft said, “I started taking drugs about ten years back. I used to earn about Rs 150 per day and spent all the money on drugs. I started using syringes, as they are more effective.” Another HIV positive inmate said, “I also used to take drugs through used syringes. But, I didn’t know I had become HIV positive.”