Fighting drug theft

THE Punjab government’s decision to implement a two-layered biometric system at its 706 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics aims to curb the pilferage of buprenorphine, a key drug for deaddiction. With nearly 10 lakh drug addict patients relying on these clinics, illegal diversion of the drug has been rampant. Nearly five crore tablets were pilfered in 2019-20 alone, leading to licence cancellations of 23 clinics. The biometric system, which records patient fingerprints at entry and at the time of medication administration, is expected to prevent impersonation and ensure that only genuine patients receive treatment. However, while this technological intervention is a much-needed accountability measure in the state government’s war against drugs, it is not a standalone solution. The core issue lies in the nature of the buprenorphine itself — that of its dependency. Despite being prescribed for opioid deaddiction, buprenorphine carries a high addiction potential.

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Alarmingly, data indicates that over 99 per cent of patients in Punjab’s deaddiction programme have not successfully weaned off buprenorphine. Between 2017 and 2022, out of approximately 8.74 lakh patients, only around 4,000 in government centres and a mere 244 in private centres completed their treatment. This scenario underscores the necessity for a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment.

While buprenorphine plays a crucial role in harm reduction, it should not be viewed as a panacea. The government must integrate psychosocial support, counselling and rigorous monitoring of treatment protocols. Strict audits of deaddiction centres and curbs on the black-market trade of buprenorphine are equally necessary. While biometrics is a welcome step to prevent the misuse of the medicine, it does not encompass the broader challenges associated with curbing drug addiction. Without a comprehensive strategy that includes effective weaning-off mechanisms and rehabilitation support, Punjab’s deaddiction programme risks becoming a revolving door of dependency.