3-fold rise in de-addiction patients in Punjab since March

Punjab’s “War on drugs campaign” seems to be yielding fruit. As the supply chain for narcotics gets disrupted, the number of patients seeking de-addiction treatment has increased phenomenally — by more than three times.

According to the figures collected from the Health Department, the number of patients seeking treatment at the 36 drug de-addiction centres has increased from an average of 600 to 2,000, while the daily footfall at the outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOATS) clinics have increased from an average 1 lakh before March 1, when the anti-drugs campaign was launched, to 1.50 lakh now — an increase of 50,000.

Punjab has 36 drug de-addiction centres in the public sector and 177 in the private sector, besides 19 government-run drug rehabilitation centres. Of the 177 private centres, 143 are functioning after licences of 22 centres run by Amit Bansal were suspended. These centres are now sealed and Bansal’s drug de-addiction business is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). After the raid on his businesses by the ED last week, the patient record, medicine stock and data in computers are reportedly being scanned.

However, it has not had much impact in the de-addiction programme. The patients going to these 22 centres are now going to nearby government-run centres. After the government launched its “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” drive on March 1, Dr Sandeep Bhola, head of the Punjab Drug De-addiction programme, while talking to The Tribune, said with the supply chain of narcotics having been choked, the government’s focus is now on treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. “Initially, the number of beds available at the drug de-addiction centres were 2,000, which has been increased to 5,000 now, to meet the demands. Nursing colleges attached with hospitals and private hospitals have been roped in to help the government provide treatment to addicts,” he said. Eighteen new OOATS centres have also been established, taking their total number to 565.

In each district, the Deputy Commissioner-appointed committees are first checking these private facilities and sending the feasibility reports to the Health Department, for allowing these to admit addicts. In compliance of all government regulations, these private nursing colleges attached to hospitals and other private hospitals are being taken on board. For rehabilitation, the 19 rehab centres have signed an MoU with the Sun Foundation (a charitable organisation run by AAP RS MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney) for skilling addicts in different vocations.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh had earlier told The Tribune that they were also engaging private psychologists for treatment and rehabilitation of addicts (by paying them Rs 1,500 per hour) and trying to decriminalise drug addiction. “Because of better treatment, harm reduction had been observed in addicts. The cases of hepatitis have come down as have the drug overdose deaths,” he said.