Punjab drug situation improving under new regime, say docs

Chandigarh, June 25

Alcohol consumption has doubled while the drug abuse is four times the national figure in Punjab. However, things have started improving ever since the new regime took over the reins in the state.

This was stated by Dr BS Chavan, Professor and head, Psychiatry Department, GMCH-32. He further said there has been a rise in the number of patients in the hospital as well as at the outreach centres, especially since the new government tightened a noose around drug peddlers. Dr Chavan said findings were made after conducting a mental health survey of eight per cent of people in Punjab last year.

During the survey, it was found that 2.48 per cent of the residents were hooked on drugs whereas the national average was 0.5 per cent while 7.90 percent where addicted to alcohol whereas the national average was 4.65 per cent.

“The projected numbers, who are regularly taking hard drugs such as opium and heroin the state, turned out to be approximately 4 lakh. Of late, there has been a rise in the number of patients suffering from multiple substance abuse. Suppose someone is hooked on heroin. Due to a lack of availability, he will start taking some other drug,” said Chavan.

Dr BN Subodh, Associate Professor, psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, also made a similar observation. He said, “First the addict look for drugs they are consuming. If they do not get it, then they will look for an alternative. After the alternative drug is also not available in the market, then they start visiting hospital for treatment.” He said previously, when the government had cracked down on drugs, the addicts had started consuming alternative habit-forming drugs such as buprenorphine and tramadol. — TNS