Anti-drug panels come to addicts’ rescue in Muktsar

MUKTSAR: The anti-drug committees working in more than two dozen villages in Muktsar are helping the addicts by admitting them to rehabilitation centers and getting counselling from outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) centres set up by the government.

The efforts by these committees have brought some positive results as a large number of youngsters have come forward to quit drugs.

Youngsters in these villages have formed these volunteerdriven committees to fight the drug menace in their areas.

In the past few months, members of these committees in some villages also faced threats after they helped the police in nabbing drug peddlers.

Ranjeet Singh Gill, member of Gurusar anti-drug committee, said, “After spreading awareness against drugs among the youngsters, we contacted the officials of the health department for counseling. Many addicts are quitting drugs now.”

“I was addicted to drugs for some years after I fell in bad company. After the anti-drug committee spread awareness about the ill impacts of drugs, I decided to quit drugs” said a youth, on the condition of anonymity.

Parveen Bansal, co-coordinator of Gidderbaha anti-drug committee, said, “Several youngsters who wanted to quit drugs approached us. We want the youth free from drugs. We are getting a positive response from drug addicts and their families”

“With the rise in awareness level, we already have more 1,000 patients at the OOAT centre in Gidderbaha. The anti-drug committees are doing a commendable job by spreading awareness against drugs,” said Pardeep Sachdeva, senior medical officer (SMO), Gidderbaha.

BLURB Many addicts are quitting drugs due to efforts of these volunteer-driven committees formed by youngsters

MANY ADDICTS ARE QUITTING DRUGS DUE TO EFFORTS OF THESE VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN COMMITTEES FORMED BY YOUNGSTERS IN OVER TWO DOZEN VILLAGES