42 per cent addicts in UT inject drugs: PGI study

Mohit Khanna 

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

If Punjab is grappling with the problem of the substance abuse, the situation in Chandigarh is no different. 

There are more than 7,000 opioid users in the city, out of which more than 42 per cent addicts take injectable drugs such as buprenorphine, heroin, pentazoc or cocktail of the three. 

The findings were part of a survey conducted by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

In a stark contrast from Punjab, where addicts still prefer naturally-derived opioid, nearly 70 per cent addicts in Chandigarh are hooked to synthetic and injectable drugs.

According to Ajit Avasthi, Head, Department of Psychiatry, “Injectable opioid is used more in Chandigarh which is a serious concern. In Punjab, the drug addicts are using heroin as an injectable drug, the supply of which can be curbed. In Chandigarh, the addicts are injecting buprenorphine (synthetic drug). This diversion in drugs is a cause of worry.”

He said on an average, a drug addict from Chandigarh was spending Rs 400 daily to meet the drug need. 

In 79 per cent cases, the drug abuse is leading to problems with members of family, while 15 per cent drug addicts have been involved in road accidents.

When asked about the sections of society left out in the survey, Avasthi said the figures were reliable, “However, the survey should be conducted for people living in slums, deprived societies, employees working in the IT sector and people from high society and students.”

The study, by the PGIMER’s Department of Psychiatry, was funded by the Centre’s Department of Health Research and conducted under the supervision of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said Avasthi.

“Through this study, we wanted to know the prevalence of the drug problem in Chandigarh and kinds of drugs being used in the UT,” said Avasthi.

He blamed the availability of drugs, lack of regulations and peer pressure for the increasing problem of drug abuse.

“There is a need to plug the availability of drugs, regulation of drugs should be made better and youth should be encouraged to take up sports activities,” he said.