Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said the national rehabilitation system for drug users must operate within community participation and adhere strictly to Islamic principles.
Speaking on the third episode of the podcast “The Pulse”, the president described the narcotics epidemic as the most deeply rooted and enduring crisis facing the nation. He said resolving it requires the collective cooperation of the public, and confirmed that tracking its underlying causes is the administration’s top priority.
“This is not a challenge that can be resolved through superficial or piecemeal interventions,” President Muizzu said.
The president said eradicating the epidemic demands action on two fronts: addressing root causes and halting the spread of narcotics to protect young people. He confirmed that a holistic approach is the official policy of his administration.
President Muizzu stressed that the crisis requires unified collaboration across society, including families, civil society organizations, and state institutions. He said that the government aims to rescue young people caught in the crisis and open pathways for those who recover to build dignified, productive lives.
The President also set a clear standard for the rehabilitation framework: it must guarantee that recovered youth do not relapse after reintegration. “It defies logic for a young person who successfully completes rehabilitation today to relapse into substance abuse,” he said.