Punjab to form support groups in de-addiction centres with Narcotics Anonymous collaboration

Ropar: Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday visited a local de-addiction centre to assess healthcare services and announce new initiatives aimed at combating drug abuse across the state, which include building support groups in all outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics, de-addiction centres, and rehabilitation facilities in collaboration with Narcotics Anonymous.

Dr Balbir Singh revealed plans to create 15-member health committees in every village, led by a woman member of the panchayat and supported by an accredited social health activist (Asha) worker. The committees will include ex-servicemen, teachers, panchayat representatives, and members of volunteer organisations to coordinate grassroots efforts toward making Punjab drug-free.

The minister acknowledged that drug addiction was not limited to Punjab but affected even neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. He cited cases of patients from HP who were receiving treatment at Ropar centre, attributing the issue to the accessibility of synthetic drugs produced in the pharmaceutical factories of Nalagarh-Baddi, near Ropar. While synthetic drugs are banned in Punjab, the minister emphasised the need for stricter enforcement. He also vowed to demolish properties acquired through drug trafficking to prevent criminals from exploiting vulnerable youth.

Highlighting the scale of the crisis, the minister claimed that 3,700-odd patients were registered with the OOAT clinics in Ropar district alone. Many drug users, those who inject substances in particular, are at high risk of contracting hepatitis, HIV, and tuberculosis. To aid in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, the govt will provide them with vocational training and facilitate access to loans under various schemes.

Warning to private centres

The govt also plans to train counsellors and de-addiction centres' staff in modern treatment techniques to expedite recovery and improve patient outcomes. The minister also warned private de-addiction centres that these facilities would face strict scrutiny, ending in found severe legal action if found selling narcotic pills illegally. "These initiatives will ensure a more effective fight against drug abuse in Punjab," he said. "We are committed to eliminating this menace and restoring hope for affected individuals and their families."