How easy access to intoxicating pills is destroying Sirsa’s youth

Sirsa, a district in the state located on the border of Punjab and Rajasthan, was once known for its peaceful lifestyle, rich culture and achievements in sports, education and farming. Today, it is in the news for a very different reason, a growing crisis of drug addiction, especially among its youth.

Over the past few years, Sirsa has seen a rise in the illegal sale and usage of intoxicating pills and capsules such as tapentadol, pregabalin and signature capsules. These are not covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, making it easier for people to buy them without fear of legal trouble. These pills, meant for medical use, are now being misused for intoxication and are even sold at local grocery and medical shops in villages and small towns. Ravi (name changed), 24, as present being treated at Sirsa Civil Hospital’s de-addiction centre, shared his painful journey. He lost his father four years ago and went into depression. A friend gave him a synthetic drug that made him feel better, but it was too expensive. Later, a local unlicenced doctor gave him pills that made him sleepy and calm. Slowly, he got addicted. His body is now suffering from serious damage, especially his liver. His wife, who stays by his side at the hospital, is heartbroken and worried about their future.

Sandeep (name changed) (28), another patient, also at the de-addiction centre, started using drugs in college. He now has a four-year-old daughter but is physically weak and battling many health problems. He used to take the pills with water and later even injected them for a stronger effect. He hopes to recover and return to a normal life.

With the situation worsening, local village panchayats have begun taking matters into their own hands. At Jandwala Jatan village, after repeated complaints, the panchayat locked up a medical store last week that was selling such pills illegally. In another case, the police and drug control team recovered over 50,000 pills and capsules from a store during a raid in the Kalanwali area.

According to drug control officers Suneel Kumar and Keshav Vashishth, pills like tapentadol and pregabalin are commonly misused. These are not fully banned, which makes these easy to access. Officers are regularly raiding such shops and suspending licences where illegal sales are found. Dr Pankaj, who runs the de-addiction centre in Sirsa, says these pills are often used as a cheaper replacement for more expensive synthetic drugs. He believes addiction is a disease and must be treated like one. The society must show support and not hate those who are suffering.

Legal experts, Anuj Ganeriwala, vice-president, Sirsa Bar Association, are demanding stronger action. He suggests filing a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court to bring these pills under the NDPS Act and protect the youth from further harm.

Don’t just run marathons, take

action against drugs: Selja to CM

• Sirsa MP Kumari Selja welcomed CM Nayab Saini’s upcoming participation in an anti-drug marathon in Dabwali on August 24 but urged stronger action

• She said the youth in Dabwali, Kalanwali, Rori and other areas were dying daily due to drug abuse

• Selja demanded that frequently misused pills and capsules be immediately brought under the NDPS Act

• She added that the CM should not just attend for photo-ops but must arrest drug suppliers, stop drug flow, and protect the youth.

• “A marathon alone won’t solve the crisis,” she said