Punjab's new de-addiction plan shifts focus to mental health, long-term recovery

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday gave in-principle approval for a pilot project to strengthen psychosocial care for people battling drug addiction in three border districts, as the state government seeks to supplement medical treatment with counselling, rehabilitation and relapse prevention.

The initiative will be launched in the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Fazilka, alongside existing medical treatment at outpatient opioid-assisted treatment clinics. The programme will also cover jails in Gurdaspur and Kapurthala, according to an official statement.

The decision was taken during a meeting between Mann and a delegation of the Art of Living Foundation on Friday.

Chairing the meeting, Mann said the proposed programme would introduce an Art of Living-based spiritual wellness component to bridge the gap between medication-based treatment and sustained psychosocial rehabilitation.

Although Punjab has expanded access to medication for people affected by drug addiction, retaining patients in treatment during the initial months remains a major challenge, he said.

Mann stressed that de-addiction must go beyond medical intervention, as overcoming addiction also involves emotional resilience and willpower. The initiative, he said, would complement existing clinical treatment and focus on helping people remain in treatment and achieve long-term recovery.

The programme will initially be supported by medical treatment staff, with trained local personnel gradually taking over its implementation to ensure its sustainability without continued dependence on external support.

The chief minister said the state's anti-drug campaign would combine medical treatment, counselling, rehabilitation, community support and stringent legal action. He added that the government had already weakened drug trafficking networks by choking supply chains and sending traffickers behind bars.

The next crucial step, he said, was to ensure timely and effective rehabilitation so that people battling addiction could rebuild their lives with dignity and self-respect.

The initiative marks an effort to broaden the state's response to drugs beyond law enforcement, with greater emphasis on rehabilitation, relapse prevention, community participation and sustained recovery.MANN HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNMENT'S DEVELOPMENT PUSH

Meanwhile, a few hours after the announcement, the Punjab CM also highlighted his government's record on governance and public welfare, contrasting its work with the previous Congress and Akali governments.

Addressing a gathering at the 'Lok Milni' programme, Mann said his government had undertaken extensive development work in four-and-a-half years, comparing its record with the 22 years of Congress and Akali rule.

He said Punjab was witnessing a clear contrast between what he described as 'Kaam Ki Rajneeti' and the family-centric politics of the past.

Listing education, healthcare, electricity, irrigation, employment and infrastructure as key areas of focus, Mann said his government was working to strengthen public institutions and ensure that the benefits of governance reached ordinary people.

Education, he said, remained a central pillar of the government's agenda. Government schools, which he claimed had suffered years of neglect, were being transformed through better infrastructure, modern facilities, and a greater focus on quality of education.

Mann said the objective was to provide students with an environment in which they could compete with the best.

He also highlighted the government's welfare measures, claiming that around 90 per cent of households in Punjab were benefiting from free electricity. He said health initiatives introduced by the state provided families with treatment cover of up to Rs 10 lakh.

According to Mann, these measures were aimed at reducing the financial burden on families and ensuring that public spending translated into direct relief for ordinary people.

The chief minister also pointed to the expansion of canal irrigation, saying canal water was now reaching 88 per cent of agricultural fields. Strengthening irrigation infrastructure, he said, was essentially both to support Punjab's agricultural economy and to reduce farmers' dependence on groundwater.

He further highlighted initiatives aimed at providing greater financial support to women, describing welfare measures for mothers and sisters as an important part of the government's approach.

Mann said Punjab continued to face challenges such as unemployment, drug abuse, declining groundwater levels, inadequate public infrastructure and weaknesses in public institutions. Addressing these issues, he added, required sustained policy intervention rather than temporary political announcements.WATER CONSERVATION ANOTHER PRIORITY

Apart from the de-addiction initiative, Mann asked the Art of Living Foundation to undertake a pilot project in Mansa and Sangrur to develop comprehensive strategies for groundwater recharge and conservation.

The initiative will initially be implemented in the two districts before being expanded across Punjab, he said.

Mann stressed the need to conserve groundwater to protect the resource for future generations, describing the state's declining groundwater levels as a major concern.

He also called on the foundation to coordinate with various government departments during its awareness campaign to ensure that farmers, young people, students and other sections of society were reached.

The chief minister said the government had made progress towards long-term water security and climate resilience, adding that safeguarding Punjab's groundwater remained one of its foremost priorities.- EndsWith PTI inputs