Winds of change? Patients flock de-addiction centres in Punjab

Chandigarh, July 15 

The multi-pronged approach of the Punjab Government to eradicate the drug menace in the state has begun to yield results with a “remarkable” increase in the footfall/number of patients at Punjab’s Outpatient Opioid-Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres in June-July.

Giving details, an official spokesperson said the average registration in OOAT centres had increased from 70 new patients per day in June to 408 new patients per day in July. On July 14, the number at the OOAT centres had touched 681, he said.

Further, the average footfall in the OOATs had increased from 2,345 patients per day (old and new) in June to 4,408 patients per day (old and new) in July. “The total footfall at the OOATs on July 14 stood at 6,673,” the official said, adding the number was expected to go up substantially over the next two weeks. 

Announcing a slew of measures to check the drug mafia, the Chief Minister has made it clear that any form of violence, such as lynching, to tackle the problem will not be tolerated. Reiterating his appeal, the CM on Sunday urged the people to aid the police and other agencies by providing information that could lead to the arrest of drug smugglers and the seizure of drugs and harmful concoctions causing deaths.  — TNS