Four drug overdose deaths in two weeks baffle Bathinda authorities
BATHINDA: Four deaths allegedly due to drug overdose in the last two weeks have sent the Bathinda district authorities in a tizzy. The deceased were in their 20s and the bodies were found by the activists of a social organisation from public places in the city.
Police sources said syringes and needles found on or near the bodies pointed to drug abuse. They said it was for the first time in the last several years that so many drug-related deaths were reported from Bathinda city in such a short span. Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ajay Maluja said the recent cases have come to his notice and police are looking into the
matter. Health officials said the number could be much higher as most deaths due to substance abuse go unreported.
Official data says, on an average, 22 patients get registered daily at the dedicated outpatient
opioid-assisted treatment (OOAT) centres. Dr Arun Bansal, a psychiatrist and in-charge of OOAT programme in Bathinda, said 21,783 drug addicts have been enrolled at eight government centres from October 2018 till July this year. This year till July, the district has recorded 826 new cases.
“In more than 50% cases, the patients are hooked to heroin or ‘chitta’. Nearly 65% of the patients at OOAT are in the 17-25 age group. They need counselling and social support to join the mainstream,” said Bansal.
A 23-year-old, Amrit Kaur, of Basti No. 5 at Bir Talab, lost her husband Manpreet Singh, a flower decorator, to drug overdose on August 15. Amrit said she was unaware of Manpreet’s dependence on drugs.
Another family whose member is struggling to get out of substance abuse said drugs were available easily and peddlers even offer home delivery.
The SSP said he would soon chalk out a strategy to handle the growing problem of narcotics.