Drug De-addiction

Bhagwant Mann Government Introduces Methadone Maintenance Therapy to Enhance Drug De-Addiction Services in Punjab

Bhagwant Mann Government Introduces Methadone Maintenance Therapy to Enhance Drug De-Addiction Services in Punjab

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Punjab has introduced an internationally accepted drug de-addiction treatment known as Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) for people with severe opioid dependence. The introduction of methadone marks a significant step in the state’s treatment-focused approach to tackling drug addiction. Conventional treatment has largely relied on Buprenorphine-based Opioid Substitution Therapy through the state’s more than 500 OOAT centres, which involves replacing harmful opioids with regulated medication to treat addiction, and abstinence-based rehabilitation. The introduction of MMT provides an additional treatment option for patients with long-term opioid dependence who have not responded adequately to existing therapies. Six dedicated methadone clinics…
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Punjab Anti-Drug Drive Gets Grassroots Boost as E-Rickshaw Campaign Expands to 3,440 Villages

Punjab Anti-Drug Drive Gets Grassroots Boost as E-Rickshaw Campaign Expands to 3,440 Villages

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Bhagwant Mann government’s flagship initiative against drug abuse in Punjab 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' is getting a major boost from a campaign that involves specially designated e-rickshaws at the grassroots level. These e-rickshaws are operating across Punjab's 86 legislative assemblies as part of a pilot project aimed at mobilising communities against drug abuse. As part of the campaign, one assembly segment has been selected in each of the 23 districts for the pilot project. In these assembly segments, one e-rickshaw has been assigned to cover 40 villages to spread awareness and collect anonymous tip-offs about drug peddlers…
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Second Chances: Rehabilitation and Jobs Drive Ground-Level Impact of Punjab’s Anti-Drug Campaign

Second Chances: Rehabilitation and Jobs Drive Ground-Level Impact of Punjab’s Anti-Drug Campaign

Chandigarh (Gurpreet): Punjab is witnessing a steady shift in its fight against drugs, as the Bhagwant Mann Government’s 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' (anti-drug campaign) expands its focus from enforcement to rehabilitation and reintegration. Alongside action against trafficking networks, structured support for treatment and employment is helping affected individuals return to stable, productive lives. Jugraj Singh (name changed) represents this transition. Introduced to drugs during his college years through peer influence, what began as experimentation soon turned into dependence. Today, he is focused on completing his studies and rebuilding his future. “I feel I have become a better person,” he said. With…
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Punjab Declares War on Drugs: CM Mann Vows Drug-Free State by May 31

Punjab Declares War on Drugs: CM Mann Vows Drug-Free State by May 31

Jalandhar, May 3, 2025 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ramped up his anti-drug crusade on Saturday, administering oaths to hundreds of newly formed Village Defence Committees, pledging to wipe out drugs from the state by May 31. Joined by AAP state president Aman Arora and Lok Sabha MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, Mann declared the fight against drugs as a “war” that will soon be won with public support.He compared the state’s strategic approach to military planning, assuring that this coordinated offensive against drugs marks a turning point. Alongside this, Mann emphasized the government’s commitment to rehabilitation. The…
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