Drive to check misuse of de-addiction preparations

The administration here has initiated a process for checking misuse of pharmaceutical preparations supplied to addicts for de-addiction and supplying the same to addicts.

A meeting of senior functionaries of the police, civil and Health Department was held at the community health centre at Payal on Thursday, following which officials concerned had been advised to submit reports about amendments required in the existing system of providing these pharmaceutical preparations under the opioid assisted drug de-addiction programme.

Jyoti Yadav, SSP, presided over the meeting convened under supervision of Payal SDM Pardeep Bains and Payal DSP Hemant Malhotra, while Dr Harvinder Singh, SMO, represented the Health Department. Yadav said the meeting had been convened to review the progress of the statewide campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched to tighten noose around drug peddlers and rehabilitation of addicts undergoing de-addiction treatment at various centres, including OAAT centers of the Health Department.

Referring to observations made during the discussions, Yadav said strict action would be taken against those who were involved in siphoning off the pharmaceutical preparations meant for de-addiction of patients. “As misuse of de-addiction products for drug abuse is an issue related with the Health Department, we will discuss these things with the authorities in that department and submit our reports for necessary action at administrative level,” said Yadav.