Boost for state de-addiction infra

As part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign to eradicate drug addiction, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh announced on Saturday a significant expansion of de-addiction infrastructure, including 550 new beds and the establishment of additional Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres.

Speaking to mediapersons after reviewing the progress of the anti-drug campaign along with MLAs Madan Lal Bagga and Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, SSPs Dr Jyoti Yadav Bains and Dr Ankur Gupta, the minister outlined the state government’s multi-pronged strategy under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

It includes upgrading existing facilities, opening new OOAT centres and combining strict action against drug traffickers with compassionate treatment for addicts.

Dr Singh detailed that the state currently had a 480-bed capacity in de-addiction centres and new 550 beds, including 100 beds at the DMCH, 50 at the CMCH, 100 at upcoming government homeopathic medical college here, 190 at nursing college in the city and alongside beds in two government medical colleges, would further strengthen the capacity. New OOAT centres would also be opened based on requirement to ensure accessible and high-quality treatment for addicts.

The government would also provide skill training tailored to industry needs and agricultural training in high-value crops for addicts from farming backgrounds. These initiatives were designed to foster self-employment and long-term rehabilitation, ensuring recovering individuals could lead to productive lives.

Dr Singh also highlighted the success of the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, noting that the drug supply network had been significantly disrupted, with stringent action taken against peddlers.