In brief
The Bureau of Rehabilitation reported a drop in the drug relapse rate to 19.21 percent in 2026, down from 24.5 percent in 2025. More former users stayed drug‑free, and the bureau is expanding awareness efforts, especially in the tourism sector, while urging voluntary treatment.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Bureau of Rehabilitation announced that the drug relapse rate among individuals who completed rehabilitation programs fell to 19.21 percent in the first ten months of 2026, a sharp decline from 24.5 percent in 2025.
According to the bureau’s data, the proportion of former drug users who remained drug‑free rose from 31.4 percent in 2025 to 45.18 percent between January 1 and October 30, 2026, an improvement of 13.78 percentage points.
Director General M.S. Hameed said that the increase in the number of people staying drug‑free reflected the effectiveness of the nation’s anti‑drug strategy, which has been in place for several years.
During a media briefing in Colombo on Thursday, Hameed highlighted that the bureau was expanding its awareness programmes targeting employees in the tourism industry, where drug addiction has been a growing concern.
It was noted that 14 percent of individuals who sought treatment at rehabilitation centres were employed in the hotel and tourism sector, prompting the bureau to launch targeted educational campaigns in districts such as Gampaha and parts of the Southern Province.
The bureau’s outreach includes a programme scheduled for November 9 that will focus on workers in major tourist hotels in Sigiriya and Dambulla, with Dambulla chosen as the central location for the event.
Hameed urged individuals struggling with drug addiction and their families to seek voluntary rehabilitation rather than awaiting legal action, emphasizing the importance of early and proactive treatment.
While the bureau does not disclose individual names, it emphasized the collective improvement in relapse rates across multiple rehabilitation centres nationwide.
The decline has been welcomed by health officials who say that the number of people returning to society without the burden of addiction is growing.
Officials also pointed out that the expansion of awareness programmes aligns with the national “A Nation United” anti‑drug operation, which seeks to unify government, civil society, and communities in the fight against substance abuse.
Experts predict that continued investment in prevention and rehabilitation will sustain the downward trend in relapse rates in the coming years.
As the country plans further programmes, authorities will continue to monitor relapse statistics to assess the ongoing impact of their interventions on public health and the tourism sector’s workforce.
