Alarmed by the latest findings of the National Drug Dependance Treatment Centre that put the State in the top draw in terms of drug abuse, the Punjab government has embarked on a three-pronged strategy to fight the menace.
Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the Asian Regional Forum Against Drugs here on Thursday, B. Chadrasekhar, Inspector General of Police, Special Task Force, Punjab, said the programme named Comprehensive Action Against Drug Abuse laid equal emphasis on enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention.
While enforcement involves the strict implementation of the NDPS Act, apprehension of drug traffickers and snapping of drug supply lines, the treatment of drug abuse victims remains another focal area.
New concept
“The State government has introduced a revolutionary concept called the Outpatient Opioid Addiction Treatment Clinics where drug addicts need not get admitted but drop in for medicines and carry on with their regular lives. It is for the first time that such a model is developed anywhere in the country and has been a resounding success,” said Mr. Chandrasekhar.
The State government has also introduced a novel Drug Abuse Prevention Officers Programme to prevent vulnerability to drug abuse. It is a community-level participatory programme under which any adult person can enlist for working towards controlling drug menace, he added. This is in addition to another programme, Buddy, targeting students starting from Standard 6 to the university level. “The aim is to educate students on the ill effects of drugs and help them develop the requisite skills to stay away from the lure of drugs. Besides, the government also holds comprehensive awareness campaigns for combating the menace,” said Mr. Chandrasekhar.
Published - September 27, 2019 01:58 am IST
