Latest news with #DTCs
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Patient numbers up 1300% in 5 yrs at city drug treatment clinic
Hyderabad: Fresh data tabled in the Lok Sabha has thrown up a shocking 1300% jump in patient footfall at Hyderabad's drug treatment clinic (DTC) over the last five years. According to records submitted by the ministry of home affairs on July 22, the DTC at the city's Institute of Mental Health (IMH) saw the number of patients go up from 701 in 2020–21 to 9,832 in 2024–25 (up to Jan). It is the sharpest spike across all such major centres in India. In 2024-25, the clinic received 2,692 new registrations, a fourfold jump from 645 recorded in its first year. According to doctors at IMH, most patients visiting the clinic are addicted to alcohol, adulterated toddy and cannabis. The Hyderabad facility was set up in 2020. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad "On an average, at least 30 patients come to the drug clinic every day. In a month, we easily record over 600 cases," said Dr K Phanikanth, who heads the clinic at IMH. He added: "Recently, when the excise department conducted raids at toddy shops, there was an influx of patients with withdrawal symptoms. Our daily caseload went up to about 100." Doctors and de-addiction experts attribute this astronomical rise to multiple factors — easy availability and affordability of drugs, increased anxiety and stress post pandemic and presence of a dedicated treatment facility that patients can go to. Stricter enforcement by the Anti-Narcotics Bureau making counselling mandatory under NDPS Act and growing awareness about substance abuse are also factors pushing the numbers up, they said. "In fact, what this data indicates is just the tip of the iceberg," said K Devika Rani, a de-addiction expert. She added: "The problem of substance abuse is much deeper. Thousands of people, especially youngsters, are hooked to drugs like cocaine, LSD, MDMA along with cannabis and alcohol. The addiction is so severe that weaning them off is a near impossibility." Set up with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, as the nodal centre, DTCs run under govt-supported de-addiction programmes. They treat people, above the age of 18 and dealing with various addictions, as outpatients who are given anti-craving medication and psychological counselling. While two DTCs, in Dibrugarh (Assam) and Agra (UP), saw a higher percentage rise in patient count compared to Hyderabad (1788% and 1400% respectively), absolute numbers in both these clinics were lower. While Assam's numbers went up from 25 in 2021–22 to 472 in 2024–25, in the case of Agra, it increased from 16 to 240 during the said period. Currently, India has 25 DTCs. The data also sheds light on illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis destroyed across the country. In 2024, a total of 22,512 acres of poppy cultivation and 34,018 acres of cannabis were destroyed. Of this, eight acres were in Telangana.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Patient numbers up 1,300% in 5 yrs at Hyderabad drug treatment clinic
Representational Image HYDERABAD: It's a high on a major leap. Fresh data tabled in Lok Sabha has thrown up a shocking 1300% jump in footfall over the last five years at Hyderabad's drug treatment clinic (DTC). According to records submitted by the ministry of home affairs on July 22, the DTC at the city's Institute of Mental Health (IMH) saw the number of patients go up from 701 in 2020-21 to 9,832 in 2024-25 (up to Jan). It is the sharpest spike across all such major centres in India. According to doctors at IMH, most patients visiting the clinic are addicted to alcohol, adulterated toddy and cannabis. The Hyderabad facility was set up in 2020. "On an average, at least 30 patients come to the drug clinic every day. In a month, we easily record over 600 cases," said K Phanikanth, who heads the clinic at IMH. He added: "Recently, when the excise department conducted raids at toddy shops, there was an influx of patients with withdrawal symptoms. Our daily caseload went up to about 100." Doctors and de-addiction experts attribute this astronomical rise to multiple factors - easy availability and affordability of drugs, increased anxiety and stress post pandemic and presence of a dedicated treatment facility that patients can go to. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Stricter enforcement by the Anti-Narcotics Bureau making counselling mandatory under NDPS Act and growing awareness about substance abuse are also factors pushing the numbers up, they said. "In fact, what this data indicates is just the tip of the iceberg," said K Devika Rani, a de-addiction expert. She added: "The problem of substance abuse is deeper. Thousands of people, especially youngsters, are hooked to drugs like cocaine, LSD, MDMA along with cannabis and alcohol. The addiction is so severe that weaning them off is a near impossibility." Set up with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, as the nodal centre, DTCs run under govt-supported de-addiction programmes. They treat people, above the age of 18 and dealing with various addictions, as outpatients who are given anti-craving medication and psychological counselling. While two DTCs, in Dibrugarh (Assam) and Agra (UP), saw a higher percentage rise in patient count compared to Hyderabad (1788% and 1400% respectively), absolute numbers in both these clinics were lower. While Assam's numbers went up from 25 in 2021-22 to 472 in 2024-25, in the case of Agra, it increased from 16 to 240 during the said period. Currently, India has 25 DTCs.
Bangkok Post
19-07-2025
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Chemotherapy can speed up cancer spread: study
HONG KONG — A team of Chinese scientists has found that the spread of cancer from original tumour sites to distant organs can be caused by chemotherapy triggering the awakening of dormant cancer cells. Their findings shed light on why breast cancer patients can experience cancer metastasis in organs like the lungs despite successful treatment of their primary tumours. The team also found that the use of specific drugs in combination with chemotherapy could be used to inhibit this process in mice, and a clinical trial is already under way in breast cancer patients. "We demonstrate that chemotherapeutic drugs, including doxorubicin and cisplatin, enhance proliferation and lung metastasis of dormant breast cancer cells," the team wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Cell on July 3. "This study provides direct evidence of dormancy awakening and reveals a mechanism underlying [the] detrimental effect of chemotherapy on metastasis, highlighting potential strategies to improve cancer treatment." Researchers in the United States previously found that high doses of radiation therapy to treat cancer could paradoxically lead to the growth of metastatic tumours. Many patients who undergo chemotherapy to treat primary tumours, the original tumour site in the body where cancer cells first start to develop, can have cancer relapses in other organs even after complete primary tumour regression. This has led to research into whether chemotherapy can have a similar paradoxical effect, in which it both treats primary tumours and triggers cancer metastasis. "It is postulated that the reactivation, or awakening, of dormant disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in distant organs results in metastatic relapse after the asymptomatic period," the team said. Studies have shown that disseminated cancer cells, which travel from primary tumours to sites in the body, can be found even during the early stages of primary cancer formation, according to a news release by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). These cells can stay in a dormant state for years, during which they do not grow and multiply, allowing them to evade chemotherapy. Researchers have previously identified molecular mechanisms that regulate metastatic relapse and disseminated cancer cell dormancy. However, it has not been clear whether metastasis results from the reactivation of dormant cells or the growth of rare, non-dormant disseminated cells. "Understanding the exogenous causes of DTC awakening will help disease management of cancer survivors, offering opportunities to prevent and interrupt metastatic relapse after initial therapies," the researchers said in their paper. To study this, the team led by Hu Guohong, a professor at CAS' Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, along with researchers from Fudan University and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, developed a cancer cell dormancy tracing approach. The team confirmed that chemotherapy-induced reactivation of dormant cells from breast cancer could lead to metastatic relapse in the lungs of mice. Their findings demonstrated that the "awakening of dormant DTCs, but not accumulation of pre-existing proliferative DTCs, is responsible for metastases induced by chemotherapy". Chemotherapy induces senescence - an accelerated state of ageing in which cells stop multiplying and release inflammation-causing chemicals - in specialised connective tissue called fibroblasts. The team found that senescent fibroblasts release proteins that cause immune cells called neutrophils to form weblike formations, called neutrophil extracellular traps, which change the environment in the lung into one that helps dormant cancer cells restart their growth. The remodelling of the extracellular matrix, a complex network of molecules that support and surround cells, also degrades tumour-suppressing factors. "We explored if chemotherapy-induced senescent fibroblasts could be a therapeutic target to improve the effect of chemotherapy on metastasis inhibition," the team said. The researchers discovered that combining senolytic drugs, which eliminate senescent cells, with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin reduced senescent fibroblasts in the lungs of mice. "Since the senolytics have shown acceptable safety profiles and benefits in clinics, this could be a promising strategy and warrant further clinical investigation," they said. The team said that, based on these study results, a phase II clinical trial was under way to explore the safety of combining the senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin with chemotherapy to treat triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is an invasive and aggressive form of the disease that cannot be treated with the usual hormone therapy used to help treat such cancers.
Cision Canada
18-07-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Canada invests in the expansion of Saskatchewan Drug Treatment Courts Français
, July 18, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is providing up to $850,000 annually to support the operation of drug treatment courts (DTCs) by the Government and Courts of Saskatchewan. This funding has allowed the recent opening of the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court, which marks an expansion of existing DTCs in Regina and Moose Jaw to serve the Battlefords and west central Saskatchewan. This was made possible through Justice Canada's Drug Treatment Court Funding Program. The opening of the additional DTC was applauded by Buckley Belanger, Member of Parliament for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. The Government of Canada is committed to provide support to break the cycle of addiction without punishment. DTCs provide a way to mix justice with health care, giving treatment instead of punishment to those whose crimes are related to substance use. These courts aim to break the cycle of addiction and crime for eligible adult offenders. Quotes "Substance use is a complex social and economic issue. When someone is struggling, they deserve support and the right resources. By investing in Drug Treatment Courts, we are strengthening our justice system and helping people get the care they need to recover, break the cycle of drug use, and prevent criminal reoffending. This ongoing support for drug treatment courts not only promotes healing but helps build healthier and safer communities." The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., Member of Parliament for Central Nova Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency "Addiction shouldn't be a life sentence. The opening of the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court means more people in our region can get the help they need to break the cycle of substance use and build a better future. I'm proud that our federal government is supporting this important work." The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Member of Parliament for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River Secretary of State (Rural Development) "The opening of the Battlefords Drug Treatment Court represents another step forward for the strong partnership that the courts and province have built to support residents in overcoming addictions and mental health challenges. Together we can promote proactive and transformative change that gives individuals the skills they need to create a successful and sustainable future for themselves." Tim McLeod, K.C. Saskatchewan's Justice Minister and Attorney General "Drug treatment courts offer individuals a pathway in recovery rather than incarceration. This model of therapeutic justice provides an opportunity to address the underlying issues that bring people into conflict with the law and support lasting change that benefits not only the participants, but their families and communities." Chief Judge Shannon Metivier, Provincial Court of Saskatchewan Quick Facts - The Government of Canada is providing up to $850,000 annually to support the operation of drug treatment courts (DTCs) by the Government and Courts of Saskatchewan. - This federal funding for DTCs to the Government of Saskatchewan has been provided through Justice Canada's Drug Treatment Court Funding Program since 2023. - Justice Canada's Drug Treatment Court Funding Program provides contribution funding to the provinces and territories to implement drug treatment courts (DTCs). Associated links Stay connected Follow the Department of Justice Canada on X (formely Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Follow Minister Fraser on X (formerly Twitter): @MinJusticeEn. Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit Follow Saskatchewan Drug Treatment Courts on (Facebook), (X (formerly Twitter)), LinkedIn), and (YouTube). SOURCE Department of Justice Canada Contacts: For more information, media may contact: Lola Dandybaeva, Manager of Media Relations, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, 343-549-0347, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]; Kerri Ward-Davis, Ministry of Justice, Saskatchewan, 306-787-8621, [email protected]; Christeen Shire, Courts of Saskatchewan, 306-787-9602, [email protected]
Time Business News
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Digital Passports and Biometric IDs: What They Mean for Your Privacy
VANCOUVER, Canada – As digital passports and biometric IDs replace traditional paper documents worldwide, a quiet revolution is reshaping how people move, identify themselves, and interact with governments. Behind the promises of seamless travel and borderless convenience lies a deeper, more controversial question: What are we giving up in exchange for that convenience? Amicus International Consulting, a global authority in legal identity change and digital privacy strategy, has released a new report examining the risks and consequences of biometric identification systems. The findings are clear: while digital identity offers speed and integration, it also centralizes surveillance and erodes personal privacy like never before. 'People see the convenience but not the control,' said a spokesperson from Amicus International. 'When your face, iris, or fingerprint becomes your passport, you can't lose it—but you also can't take it back.' What Are Digital Passports and Biometric IDs? A digital passport is an electronic version of a travel document stored on a mobile device or embedded in a biometric chip. Biometric passports are already in use in over 150 countries and include encrypted facial, fingerprint, or iris data. A biometric ID is any identity document—government-issued or otherwise—that uses biological traits to confirm a person's identity. These are increasingly linked across: Immigration databases Social welfare systems Healthcare platforms Voter registration networks Tax and financial services In 2024, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launched a pilot program for Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs). Participants use facial scans and mobile apps to travel internationally without needing to show a physical passport. The Push Toward a Paperless Identity World Governments across the globe are accelerating plans to phase out traditional ID systems in favour of biometric ones: European Union: Launching the EU Digital Identity Wallet , storing everything from passports to driver's licenses. Launching the , storing everything from passports to driver's licenses. India: Over 1.4 billion residents enrolled in the Aadhaar biometric ID system —the largest of its kind. Over 1.4 billion residents enrolled in the —the largest of its kind. United Arab Emirates: Using biometric gates at all international airports, integrating data across borders, health, and finance. Using biometric gates at all international airports, integrating data across borders, health, and finance. Australia & New Zealand: Joint digital identity pilots for trans-Tasman travel without paper passports. Joint digital identity pilots for trans-Tasman travel without paper passports. China: Mandatory facial recognition for SIM cards, transport, and online purchases. Amicus warns that these systems, while efficient, often lack proper oversight, fail to offer opt-outs, and are vulnerable to hacking and abuse. Privacy Risks: When Your Identity Is in the Cloud Digital passports and biometric IDs create centralized repositories of personal information. The risks include: 1. Permanent Data Retention Unlike a lost passport, biometric data cannot be changed. Once compromised, a face scan or fingerprint remains vulnerable forever. 2. Cross-Database Integration Biometric IDs are now linked across sectors—your immigration file, tax profile, criminal history, and health records may all be connected under one digital identity. 3. Surveillance Expansion Biometric systems feed real-time data into AI-powered surveillance networks, including facial recognition CCTV, drone tracking, and border analytics. 4. Data Breaches Even secure databases have been breached. In 2023, India's Aadhaar system suffered a leak affecting 81 million citizens. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) lost biometric files in a 2021 cyberattack. 'Digital identity centralizes control,' said the Amicus spokesperson. 'It's efficient for governments, dangerous for citizens.' Case Study: Facial Recognition Triggers Border Detention A Canadian journalist travelling to Europe was flagged by facial recognition systems at Frankfurt Airport in 2023. The system had wrongly matched her image with a protester arrested in Berlin five years earlier. Despite different citizenship, age, and legal status, she was detained and questioned for six hours. Amicus helped her clear the digital flag and file for identity protection with multiple EU databases. The false match was caused by flawed AI training data linked to her facial structure. How Biometric Borders Work in 2025 Today's international travel experience often looks like this: Your flight booking is linked to your government ID and biometric profile. At check-in, a camera scans your face and retrieves your reservation information. At immigration, your iris and face are matched to your biometric passport. At the boarding gate, you scan nothing—just a camera that confirms your face matches your identity. No paperwork. No boarding pass. No personal interaction. The entire process is touchless, paperless—and thoroughly surveilled. Amicus' Role in Digital Privacy and Legal Identity Reinvention Amicus International offers privacy-focused solutions for individuals navigating the challenges of the digital identity age. These include: Second Passports through Legal Citizenship Programs: Helping clients acquire citizenship from nations that limit biometric sharing. Helping clients acquire citizenship from nations that limit biometric sharing. Legal Name and Identity Changes: Assisting with court-authorized transitions that align with privacy protection goals. Assisting with court-authorized transitions that align with privacy protection goals. Biometric Disassociation Services : Leveraging AI tools such as Fawkes and LowKey to prevent public images from training facial recognition systems. Leveraging AI tools such as and to prevent public images from training facial recognition systems. Extradition Risk Planning and Relocation: Offering safe, legal movement strategies for high-risk individuals. Offering safe, legal movement strategies for high-risk individuals. Digital Footprint Reduction: Removing or obscuring legacy online data tied to old names, photos, or identifiers. Amicus emphasizes that all services are legal, compliant, and focused on clients facing persecution, doxxing, or unjust surveillance. Who Is Most at Risk from Biometric Overreach? While privacy concerns affect everyone, Amicus has identified several high-risk groups: Journalists and whistleblowers LGBTQ+ individuals in hostile regimes Political dissidents and asylum seekers Religious or ethnic minorities under surveillance Domestic abuse survivors hiding from abusers with government access Transgender individuals whose appearance doesn't match biometric files For these clients, involuntary exposure through facial scans or biometric data matching can lead to violence, arrest, or retribution. Case Study: Transgender Client Denied Boarding A transgender woman travelling from the Middle East to Canada was denied boarding after facial recognition at the departure gate failed to match her passport image. Although her travel documents had been legally updated, the outdated biometric record caused a red flag. Amicus assisted her in securing a biometric exemption certificate and arranged a safer travel route through a country with manual immigration review. Her identity is now fully realigned through a second citizenship program. Digital IDs Beyond Borders: When Everything Is Connected In some countries, a digital ID is more than just a passport—it controls daily life. Examples: China: Citizens must scan their faces to buy train tickets, rent apartments, or open bank accounts. Citizens must scan their faces to buy train tickets, rent apartments, or open bank accounts. India: Aadhaar links every citizen's biometric ID to taxation, banking, healthcare, and voting. Aadhaar links every citizen's biometric ID to taxation, banking, healthcare, and voting. Estonia: Known for digital innovation, Estonia's national ID system manages everything from e-voting to medical prescriptions. The concern is not just surveillance, but the inability to live, work, or move without constant digital verification. Data Sovereignty and the Danger of Globalized Identity Systems Amicus is monitoring efforts by multinational bodies to standardize biometric data across borders. Initiatives such as: The Five Eyes Alliance data-sharing agreements (U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand) data-sharing agreements (U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand) The Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) Interpol's global biometric watchlists World Bank-supported MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform) projects in developing nations These networks may increase security—but they also allow identity errors or political misuse to follow a person around the globe. 'A mistake in one country's system can become a permanent scar across a dozen others,' said the Amicus spokesperson. How to Defend Your Identity in the Biometric Age Amicus recommends these actions for individuals concerned about privacy: Opt Out Where Possible: Some countries still allow biometric travel waivers. Some countries still allow biometric travel waivers. Avoid Social Media Image Exposure: Public photos train AI facial models. Public photos train AI facial models. Use Legal Name Changes to Reset Data Links: Especially after trauma, divorce, or gender transition. Especially after trauma, divorce, or gender transition. Choose Citizenship Carefully: Some countries aggressively share biometric data. Some countries aggressively share biometric data. Work With Professionals: DIY privacy is no match for AI surveillance. Amicus helps clients develop individualized plans based on nationality, exposure risk, and mobility needs. The Future: Will Paperless Identity Be Mandatory? ICAO and IATA anticipate full deployment of digital-only travel identity by 2035. Some countries are moving faster, replacing passport booklets with QR codes and apps. Amicus believes that without strong opt-out systems, digital identity will become mandatory, irrevocable, and surveilled by default. Conclusion: Convenience or Control? You Decide Digital passports and biometric IDs are not inherently evil—but they are tools of power. Whether they become a gateway to freedom or a mechanism of control depends on who uses them, how they're regulated, and whether citizens retain the right to opt out, rebuild, or start over. Amicus International Consulting provides those options legally, ethically, and globally. In a world where identity is currency, Amicus ensures you don't lose control of yours. 📞 Contact InformationPhone: +1 (604) 200-5402Email: info@ Website:
