From enforcement to rehabilitation, Punjab's three-pronged strategy credited with building public trust in anti-drug drive

Renewed resolve to make Punjab drug-free was reaffirmed by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Tuesday, as the state's 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign was marked as having completed 500 days. A press conference was addressed by the Health Minister, at which the campaign was described as having emerged into a people's movement, with results being delivered through a three-pronged strategy of strict enforcement, comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation, and sustained prevention. Dr. Balbir Singh said that the initiative was launched by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann under the vision of AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and that it has been focused on protecting Punjab's youth and securing the state's future. "The slogan of our campaign is 'Protect, Heal and Prevent,'" it was stated by him, and it was added that a promise made by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal to free Punjab from drugs is now being fulfilled.

It was stated by the Health Minister that a holistic approach has been adopted by the government, with the Police, Health, Education, Sports, Prisons and Social Security Departments all being integrated into the campaign. Drug traffickers are being simultaneously targeted, those suffering from addiction are being treated, and future generations are being protected from substance abuse, it was explained.

Since the campaign's launch on March 1, 2025, 52,432 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act, it was reported by Dr. Balbir Singh. More than 73,300 drug peddlers have been arrested across Punjab, including 621 "big fish" caught with over two kilos of heroin, it was said. The Safe Punjab Helpline (97791-00200) was cited by him as having received 46,342 public tip-offs over the 500 days, and 22,960 drug traffickers were reported to have been arrested as a result. This level of public participation was described as evidence that trust in the government and law enforcement has been built among the people.

A comparison with earlier administrations was drawn by the Health Minister. During ten years of Akali rule, 2,817 kg of heroin was recovered, it was noted, while 2,412 kg was recovered by the Congress government over five years — a combined 5,229 kg across fifteen years. By contrast, 6,608 kg of heroin has been recovered by the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government in just four years, it was stated."These figures speak for themselves," it was said by him, with anti-drone surveillance also described as having been strengthened and enforcement intensified.

Action taken by the government was said to have gone beyond arrests. Not a single major trafficker's property was seized by previous governments, it was claimed, whereas ₹847 crore worth of properties belonging to drug traffickers have been confiscated by the current government, and illegal structures built with drug money have been demolished. "Crime will not pay in Punjab," it was asserted. One of the highest conviction rates in the country has also been achieved, it was noted, with an 89 percent conviction rate in NDPS cases reported — a figure attributed to the quality of investigation and prosecution carried out under the government.

Significant expansion of treatment infrastructure was described by Dr. Balbir Singh. Today, 213 government and private de-addiction centres, 90 rehabilitation centres, and 54 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics are operated in Punjab, it was said, with treatment provided free of cost at all government facilities.

More than 10 lakh people have been registered under the OOAT programme, it was reported, and more than 38,000 patients have received in-patient treatment at government de-addiction centres since the campaign began. It was further stated that immunity from prosecution under Section 64A of the NDPS Act has been extended to 10,917 individuals, allowing treatment to be sought instead of punishment.

OOAT facilities were said to have been established in 19 jails, while dedicated de-addiction-cum-wellbeing clinics have been set up in 10 central jails, ensuring that inmates battling addiction are given proper treatment. Under the Soorma – Ambassador of Recovery Programme, it was explained, people who have overcome addiction are used to motivate others, and their stories were described as an inspiration to thousands of young people. The Leadership in Mental Health Programme was also cited — described as India's first government fellowship of its kind, dedicated to strengthening preventive measures against substance abuse.

Equal focus is being placed on prevention among children, it was said, with school teachers being trained in Mental Health First Aid so that early signs of substance abuse can be identified and students can be connected with support. Mindfulness sessions and awareness programmes are being conducted in schools, since prevention is said to begin in classrooms. Bed capacity at de-addiction centres was reported to have been increased from 1,500 to 5,000, counsellors and clinical psychologists have been appointed in medical colleges and district hospitals, Liquid Methadone Therapy has been introduced in six districts, and community-based follow-up programmes have been launched to reduce relapse.

"Our goal is not simply to help a patient quit drugs inside a de-addiction centre," it was said. Continued support for patients after their return to villages is provided through the Community Bridge Programme, it was added. Growing grassroots involvement was highlighted, with more than 12,000 Village Defense Committees, comprising over 1.25 lakh members, described as actively participating in awareness campaigns and reporting drug trafficking. Grassroots participation was said to have been further strengthened by the Pinda Da Haal Action Plan and a statewide e-rickshaw awareness campaign.

Concerns over cross-border drug smuggling were raised by Dr. Balbir Singh, and the Union Government was urged to strengthen surveillance along the international border. "Punjab is being deliberately targeted because it shares an international border with Pakistan," it was said, while border security was noted as being the responsibility of the Central Government. The Centre was also called upon to dismantle international drug syndicates allegedly operated from prisons outside Punjab. "Punjab is fighting this battle on behalf of the entire nation," it was said, "and it deserves full cooperation from the Union Government."

"The fight against drugs cannot be won by enforcement alone," Dr. Balbir Singh concluded. "It requires public participation, compassion, rehabilitation and a collective commitment to protect our youth."