AMIK(in Bengali) has been designed as a multi-dimensional anti-drug programme incorporating preventive, curative and harm minimization aspects. It is a network of local level initiatives which enlist the support of young volunteers and students for mobilizing the civil society against drug abuse. Tobacco control and HIV/AIDS prevention activities are also addressed through this network.

Rationale

1. Dhaka Ahsania Mission could realize that the youth were abusing drugs and became more vulnerable for drugs and HIV
2. UN decade declaration (1990 - 2000)
3. Govt. of Bangladesh established a separate department named " Department of Narcotics Control" in 1988
4. Secondary data
5. Department of Narcotics Control
6. National and Local dailies
7. Observation
8. Field Report from the other community based projects

Target group
Adolescents, Youths, Drug Users, Family members & General public.

Working area/Venue
54 districts out of 64 in Bangladesh.

Central Committee
There is a 21-Member Central Committee at the apex. The network of local committees is coordinated by a Central Committee under the Chairmanship of a former Inspector General of Police & Member of Law Commission Dr. MD. Enamul Haque.

Youth Groups (Community Based Committees)
There are 402 Youth Groups spread over 150 Upazilas (Sub-Districts) of 54 District out of 64. There are 21 Members in each Committee. Normally the highest age of the members of the Branch Committees is 30 years.

Goal
The youths are active in undertaking social development activities particularly keeping their community immune from abuse of drug, tobacco and HIV/AIDS.


Objectives

1. Organize young and adolescents in the vulnerable areas to keep their community free from abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs and tobacco.
2. Facilitate community mobilization to combat abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs and tobacco.
3. Increase social awareness about the consequences of HIV/AIDS.
4. Organize Centre & community-based treatment and rehabilitation centers for the recovered addicts.
5. Enhance capacity of the youth groups to undertake activities for improvement of social environment (harmony and peace).

Major Activities

1. Mapping of geographical areas and strategy planning.
2. Organizing youths in to groups in selected vulnerable unions and locations.
3. Organizing awareness raising campaign on drug abuse and trafficking, tobacco addiction and HIV/AIDS
4. Mobilizing private sector for resource support.
5. Development and dissemination of information and communication materials.
6. Training for capacity development of community based organizations, youth groups, local government and law enforcing agency personnel.
7. Orientation of local leaders.
8. Situation analysis and documentation of lessons.
9. Operating community based information hotline services for quick flow of information.
10. Introducing community policing system.
11. Liaison with local union perished and law enforcing agencies.
12. Running treatment and rehabilitation centre for treatment, counseling and skill development of the addicts.
13. Reintegration/rehabilitation of the recovered addicts.
14. Advocacy with concerned departments, agencies and networks.

Training Courses
To carryout the awareness activities against drug, tobacco and HIV/AIDS effectively, the local level Branch Committee members are trained on different aspects of the drug problem.

• Training Courses on Masters Trainers on Drug Abuse - Persons Trained: 360
• BCC Focused Basic Training on STI/HIV/AIDS - Persons Trained: 20
• Peer Education Training - Persons Trained: 120
• Peer Volunteer Training - Persons Trained: 1350
• Community Based Drug Demand Reduction & HIV/AIDS Prevention Training - Persons Trained: 36
• Workers Training - Person Trained: 3580
• Orientation Course of School College Student - Total Course:1256
• Community Leader Orientation Course - Total Course: 92

Award Giving
Occasionally AMIK provides seed grants to the network members (Youth Groups) to strengthen their activities particularly when any fund is received from the donors. On yearly basis, the activities of the local organizations/network members are evaluated and awards given to provide encouragement for more effective works.

Materials Development
DAM has so far developed and published 315 IEC/BCC materials including the following on Drug and HIV/AIDS:

Drugs

• Posters - 10
• Leaflets - 8
• Stickers - 10
• Flip chart - 1
• Calendars - 3
• Booklet - 2

HIV/AIDS

• Flip Chart - 1
• Booklet - 4
• Poster - 4
• Folder - 4

Ongoing Project on Drug and HIV/AIDS
Peer Lead Intervention project
Location: Jessore, Satkhira, Jhenidaha
Target Population: Drug Users
Supported by: United Nation office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) under G23 project

Peer Lead Intervention project
Location: Gazipur
Target Population: Drug Users
Supported by: United Nation office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) under H13 project

Integration of youth health concern in to non-formal education focus on sexual and reproductive health and prevention of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in Asia.
Target Population: Youth
Location: Norshingdi
Supported by ESCAP, Bangkok

Sexual Health Programme among Adolescent Girls and Boys
Target Population: Adolescent boys, girls
Location: Benapole, Jessore
Supported by: DAM

Community level HIV/AIDS prevention through peer to peer approach for HIV/AIDS intervention
Target Population: Adolescent & Youth
Location: Jessore Paurasava, Jessore
Supported by: UNICEF

Prevention of HIV among injecting drug users through the provision of comprehensive drug treatment and sexual health services in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Target Population: Drug Users and their family.
Location: Dhaka
Supported by: Family Health International

Ahsania Mission Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
Supported by: UNESCO- Paris
Capacity: 50 Beds
(The Centre with provision for expansion to 150 beds) Location: Gazipur (near National Park.)

Evaluation:

• Community and youth participation are remarkable (Observation)
• Need to strengthen the local level groups and committees.
• Continuation of the master training is essential to involve the adolescent and youth.
• Continuation of awareness program for a specific target groups, especially in the institutions.
• Some of the youth groups have now been capable enough to start independent organizations on prevention of drug abuse and treatment centers.

DAM is a Member of several national and International Networks of Drug and HIV/AIDS

• Member of Board of Directors, International Council on Alcohol and Addiction (ICAA).
• Member, Global Partnership for Tobacco Control-GPTC
• Member, International Agency of Tobacco and Health-IATH
• Member, UICC, Globalink
• Executive Committee Member, Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance(BATA).
• Member, National HIV/AIDS Network Committee
• Member, Voluntary Health Services Society (VHSS)

Dhaka Ahsania Mission is a member of Switzerland based International Council on Alcohol and Addiction (ICAA) and the Executive Director of DAM, Mr. Kazi Rafiqul Alam has been elected as one of the Members of the Board of Directors of ICAA.

Upcoming Event
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Date: 26 June 2005
Training of Trainer in drug abuse prevention.
Duration: 5 days
Date: 16 to 20 July, 2005
Drug addiction treatment centre & project management training
Duration: 14 days
Date: 16 to 30 July 2005
World AIDS Day
31 December 2005