Punjab faces a harrowing escalation in its battle against addiction as addicts, grappling with substance abuse, now find themselves ensnared by de-addiction medications. Shockingly, thousands undergoing treatment in both government and private centers are discovered addicted to de-addiction drugs, notably buprenorphine.
Health Minister Balbir Singh’s revelation to the state Assembly highlighted a staggering 8.74 lakh addicts, with suspicions of an even higher number. Despite allocating Rs 102 crore annually and distributing 20 crore buprenorphine tablets, the success rate remains dismally low.
A crackdown on drug smuggling led to increased heroin prices, propelling more addicts into de-addiction centers where they’ve begun abusing buprenorphine, exacerbating the crisis.
This concerning development, where addicts misuse de-addiction drugs for a high rather than recovery, necessitates urgent attention and reform in Punjab’s approach to addiction treatment.
