Punjab govt de-addiction centre admissions rise 164% in a year | India News
CHANDIGARH: Admissions to Punjab government-run de-addiction centres rose by more than 164 percent in a year, with 25,290 people admitted in 2025 compared with 9,577 in 2024, according to data released by the state government on Monday.The Punjab government said the figures indicate growing public confidence in its treatment and rehabilitation network under its anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, launched in March 2025. More than 14,000 people had already been admitted to government de-addiction centres by July 2026.The government said the increase in admissions suggested that more individuals and families were approaching formal treatment instead of allowing stigma around addiction to prevent them from seeking help.Admissions to government rehabilitation centres also recorded a sharp increase, rising from 2,644 in 2024 to 8,574 in 2025 — a jump of more than 224 percent. By July 2026, over 5,800 people had been admitted, nearly 68 percent of the total admissions recorded in 2025.The state’s outpatient opioid-assisted treatment (OOAT) network has also seen an increase in registrations. New registrations rose from 13,033 in 2024 to 17,702 in 2025, while more than 12,500 new patients had registered by August 2026, the government said.Punjab has also invoked provisions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to facilitate treatment. As of August 27, more than 11,000 individuals had been granted immunity under Section 64A of the Act, which provides legal immunity to people suffering from drug addiction who are charged with consumption or possession, subject to its conditions.
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Health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh said the rise in admissions was among the most encouraging indicators of the anti-drug campaign, as more people were seeking institutional support and entering the formal treatment system.“Yudh Nashean Virudh stands on three pillars: strict enforcement against smugglers, treatment and rehabilitation for the affected, and prevention to protect our children before drugs ever reach them,” Singh said.He added that the government’s focus was to help people recover from addiction, restore families and provide those struggling with substance abuse a pathway to recovery.
