Rehab of transgender drug addicts urged

President Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter of Trans Action (Provincial Alliance of Transgender Community), Farzana Riaz has demanded of the government to include transgender community in the third phase of the drug addiction-free Peshawar campaign to be launched soon.

The extensive campaign should be made inclusive by involving the transgender community to benefit from the opportunity of getting rehabilitated from drug addiction, she said.

Talking to APP, Farzana said like other segments of society, transgender community members are also getting drug addicted at a fast pace. Due to psychological stress because of being disowned by family members, societal mistreatment, poverty and deprivation the community members are inclined towards drug addiction, Farzana explained. She said most of the people who come to the houses of the transgender community to enjoy music are drug addicts.

Farzana said she through her efforts and due to the cooperation of some supports, arranged rehabilitation of around 20 transgender addicts from private rehabilitation centers which is also very costly.

Majority of the transgender cannot afford to get rehabilitation treatment because of poverty and lack of awareness, she added.