Last Updated: 2 May 2025

IMPACT 2022-2024^[1]

-- ~10 lakh patients have undergone treatment
-- 97,413 addicts were admitted in Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Centers as of 11 Jan 2025

INFRA Upgrades:

1> Outpatient Drug Clinics: 2.74x Rise to Total 565 in 2025 under AAP Government

2> Deaddiction centers: 214% Rise in to Total 303 in 2024 under AAP Government
-- Number of beds increased from 1,500 to 5,000 in government de-addiction
-- Counsellors and psychiatrists are being recuited

3> Biometric based Centralised system To Stop Misuse of Drug substitute Medicine
-- Centralised platform manages & monitors patient/medicines^[2]
-- 1,100 biometric devices and 529 HD web camera bought for De-addiction & OOAT centers^[3]

¶ 1. Nasha Mukti Davai Kendras / OOAT clinics^[3:1]

^* OOAT = Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment

¶ 2. Deaddiction Centers/Nasha Mukti Kendras

Number of beds increased from 1,500 to 5,000 in government managed de-addiction and rehabilitation centers^[4:1]

• including 91 Rehabilitation Centers(19 Govt + 72 Private)^[6:1]

Counsellors/psychiatrists

• 343 counsellors/psychiatrists are being recuited^[6:2]
• Private psychiatrists are being engaged for part-time services^[7]

Modernisation & Upgrades^[6:3]

• Air-conditioners are being installed to make the stay of inhabitants more comfortable
• A uniform and balanced food menu has been prepared to provide nutritious and healthy meals to the patients at these centres
• 1 Crore from MPLAP fund for upgrades^[8]

Skill training and Yoga

• Skill training is being integrated into 19 government rehabilitation centers, in partnership with Sun foundation^[8:1]
• Introduced Yoga & Meditation in deaddiction & rehabilitation centres^[9]

Collab with Private^[7:1]

• To increase bed capacity, the state will collaborate with private nursing institutions, nursing colleges, and NGOs
• These centres will be reimbursed for infrastructure upgrades up to Rs 20,000 per bed — as a one-time grant
• They can claim up to Rs 1,500 per bed per day based on actual occupany

¶ 3. Biometric Patient monitoring and Systemic Reforms^[3:4]

Mis-use of buprenorphine: Pilferage of the substitute medicine is suspected

Centralised platform to manage & monitor patient and medicines^[2:1]

• Patients are administered the combination of buprenorphine — the substitute medicine given for the opioid use disorder
• To keep a check and ensure it is only administered to registered patients

Biometric Patient Tracking

• The patient will have to mark attendance twice
  • at points of marking their entry to the centre at the time of registration
  • at the dispensation point where buprenorphine will be administered to them

¶ 4. NEW Initiatives for De-addiction & Rehabilation

• Formulating a New Mental health policy to facilitate proper De-addiction & rehabilation^[9:1]
• Further, a Tele Manas Hub is being established at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH)^[10]

References:

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1. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/whats-the-new-phase-of-anti-drug-drive/ ↩︎

2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-to-roll-out-centralised-system-for-monitoring-drug-de-addiction-treatment/articleshow/116692154.cms ↩︎ ↩︎

3. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/de-addiction-patients-biometric-attendance-9474195/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

4. https://yespunjab.com/aap-govt-intensifies-fight-against-drugs-rehab-support-grows-for-youth-and-families/ ↩︎ ↩︎

5. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/policy-to-battle-drug-menace-in-punjab-in-works-rehab-priority/ ↩︎

6. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/whats-the-new-phase-of-anti-drug-drive/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-taps-private-sector-to-bolster-de-addiction-efforts-amid-rising-demand/articleshow/120802189.cms ↩︎ ↩︎

8. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/120802850.cms ↩︎ ↩︎

9. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-drug-crisis-awareness-crackdown-how-aap-govt-is-pushing-its-twin-track-campaign-9078268/ ↩︎ ↩︎

10. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U5IjoJJx1PsupDLWapEUsQxo_A3TBQXX/view (Page 15) ↩︎