Battambang provincial governor Sok Lou at the ceremony awarding the 5th Vocational Training Certificate to 154 drug recovery patients at the Ke Sinuon Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Sdao commune, Ratanak Mondol district. Battambang provincial administration
Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities are seeking assistance to expand a drug rehabilitation centre to address overcrowded accommodations, while the Battambang provincial administration has allocated up to 100 hectares for investment in constructing a new centre.
Vigorous enforcement of drug laws has led to an increase in the number of identified addicts, resulting in overcrowding in recovery centres. More than 300 drug offences have been tackled, including significant operations involving two major nightclubs, according to provincial governor Um Reatrey, who spoke on their achievements in the first six months of 2024.
"When we strictly enforce the law, 40 to 50 per cent of the prison population comprises drug-related offenders. Currently, the centre houses over 1,000 individuals struggling with drug addiction, whom we consider victims and have sent for treatment," he said.
“Now our facility is overcrowded. Our province is seeking assistance to expand it to provide more space for them. We continue to educate and treat them while also targeting those involved in drug offences,” he added.
More than 5,000 civil servants have been tested for drugs in the province. However, the governor reported that none of the officers tested positive for drug use.
The provincial governor and provincial administrative director Nong Vuthy were unavailable for comment on the issue.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha has directed capital and provincial governors to attract and support projects aimed at establishing more treatment centres for drug victims, in response to the rising quantity of drugs being seized, which in some cases has reached up to five tonnes.
Battambang provincial administration director Yov Sengkun said that the province currently has two drug recovery centres. The first is the Hope Rehabilitation Center, a state-run facility located in Damnak Dangkor village, in Bavel district’s Kdol Tahen commune.
He noted the second is the Ke Sinuon Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Sdao commune of Ratanak Mondol district, which is privately operated.
"The state-run centre is nearly at capacity, but the private centre has ample space and can accommodate any number of victims, offering sufficient treatment facilities, medication and all necessary resources," he said.
"The state-run facility can only house 333 patients, so we are unable to admit additional cases. New patients with this issue are being referred to the Ke Sinuon Center," he added.
He added that following instructions from Sokha, provincial governor Sok Lou directed a working group to identify a location in Kors Kralor district for the potential construction of a new centre, either by the private sector or the state. He said the proposed area spans between 50 and 100 hectares.
Administrative staff at the Ke Sinuon Center declined to comment.
However, according to an earlier report, the facility received a total of 1,115 drug victims, including 61 women, after it was officially inaugurated in August 2023.
On August 21, Lou handed over the 5th Vocational Training Certificate to 154 patients at the centre. Previously, 500 had also received the same certification.
According to the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), the number of drug users in Cambodia today is estimated to be under 40,000. However, the recorded data of users under supervision is around 20,000.
Drug treatment in the country is provided in two main ways: within communities at health centres, provincial referral hospitals and national hospitals. Additionally, there are 15 treatment centres, including six state-run, seven private and two NGO-run centres. Two more are expected to be operational soon, as per the NACD.
