AIIMS report on substance use in Punjab alarming: STF chief

PATIALA: Raising concern about the recently released report of the All India institute of medical sciences (AIIMS), Additional Director General (ADGP) of police Gurpreet Kaur Deo, said that the magnitude of substance use in the country was a cause of concern for Punjab. Deo is heading the special task force against drug abuse in the state

Interacting with media persons in Patiala on Tuesday, the ADGP said other than law enforcement, the state police was now also focusing on keeping a tab on drug users, the number of which according to the AIIMS report stands at over 4 lakh in Punjab. She said Punjab ranking third in the report was quite alarming.

The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS had recently submitted a report with the union ministry of social justice and empowerment on the national survey conducted across 36 states to ascertain the extent and pattern of substance use. The report, which is aimed at helping the state government formulate effective de-addiction policies, found that Punjab was amongst the top five states in consumption of alcohol, cannabis opioids including heroin and pharmaceutical drugs.

The ADGP said the state’s war against the drugs was an ongoing process and they were now focusing more on increasing the conservation rate and helping the addicts getting rid of the habit by assisting them in taking medication. She said the drug problem in Punjab had grown over a period of the time and it was not something which has come to light recently. She said the STF will be using the enforcement measures only against the drug traffickers.