Three-pronged strategy to end drug menace in Punjab

To tackle the issue of drug abuse, a three-pronged strategy based on enforcement, de-addiction and prevention is being implemented by the Punjab government, an official said today.

The Special Task Force (STF) set up by the government along with the concerned departments and volunteers were supervising the district police officers to formulate an area specific strategy to ensure implementation of NDPS Act effectively, an official spokesperson of the government said.

"The objective of the enforcement strategy is to choke the supply lines of drugs and carry out effective action against drug smugglers and peddlers," he said.

With 16,305 cases registered under the NDPS Act and 18,800 people arrested since March 16, 2017, the STF had successfully blocked trans-border and interstate-border drugs supply, he said.

Narcotics substances like heroin, smack, charas and opium among other were confiscated in large quantities by the district police and STF, he added.

Meanwhile, the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT), launched on a pilot basis in Moga, Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, provided easy access to de-addiction treatment to the victims. Sixty such centres were functioning across the state, he said.

Furthermore, the Drug Abuse Prevention Officers (DAPO) programme, launched by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was aimed at protecting vulnerable sections from falling prey to drugs.

"Approximately 4.8 lakh volunteer DAPOs have already been registered who were facilitating those in need to avail of de-addiction and rehabilitation services in the state," he said.

The STF in collaboration with the education department had also launched the 'Buddy Programme' in the four sub-divisions of Tarn Taran to prevent school and college students from drug abuse.

The STF trained 545 teachers and principals for implementing the programme and educating the students about the ill-effects of drugs while developing requisite behavioural skills to refuse drugs.