Drug traffickers will be dealt with strictly: Health Minister

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Punjab Drug Free: Taking forward the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to treat every drug addict as a patient and with compassion, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the Punjab government is considering bringing a policy to decriminalize the use of drugs.

He said that decriminalization does not mean that drugs will become legal, they will remain illegal and prohibited. The purpose of this policy is to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts – who are caught with small amounts of drugs – instead of jailing them. The Punjab Health Minister made it clear that the police will deal strictly with the people involved in drug trafficking.

Health Minister and Dr. Baljit Kaur was presiding over the “Experts Meeting on Mental Health Issues and Interventions in Punjab” organized by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department, in which AIIMS Delhi Professor Dr. Atul Ambekar and Professor and Head of Psychology at PGI Dr. Prominent speakers including Debashish Basu participated.

Dr. Balbir Singh further said that the problem of drugs has affected a large number of population in Punjab and this leprosy of drugs is becoming a major obstacle to the progress and development of the state. He said that our government is committed to making Punjab ‘Rangala Punjab’ by uprooting drugs from the state as per the thinking of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Punjab Government is mulling to bring a policy for decriminalisation of the drug use, said Cabinet Minister Dr. @AapBalbir. “Decriminalisation doesn’t mean that drugs will get legalised, it will continue to remain illegal. Under this policy, drug addicts or patients of (1/2) pic.twitter.com/uy1r0gvJl5

— Government of Punjab (@PunjabGovtIndia) June 21, 2023

He said that a policy is being formulated by the Punjab government, according to which a multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary approach will be used on a priority basis to deal with the situation. He said, “We are planning to work through coordination between the health department and all departments including social security, youth affairs and education to deal with the problem of drugs.

He said that it will also take the support of the Department of Employment Generation and Skill Development, which will help drug addicts to return to the mainstream of society by providing them with skills and jobs. Dr. Balbir Singh directed the health authorities to seek the services of psychiatrists in Punjab jails and encouraged private practitioners to work closely with government health institutions.

Dr. Addressing the gathering, Baljit Kaur assured full cooperation from her department to eradicate the scourge of drugs from the state. Principal Secretary Health Vivek Pratap Singh assured the Health Minister to implement the government’s health policies step by step. Secretary Health Com MD NHM Dr. Abhinav Trikha appealed to spread awareness about ‘Telemans Helpline’ to help people with mental health related issues.

On this occasion ADGP Prisons Arun Pal Singh, Special Secretary Health Dr. Adipa Karthik, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Adarshpal Kaur, Director (ESI) Dr. Seema, Vice Chancellor of PAU Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Professor GMC Faridkot Dr. Pirdutt Bansal, Professor GMC. Amritsar Dr. Neeru Bala, Professor GMC Patiala Dr. Rajneesh, R. Pillai, Deputy Director National Mental Health Program Dr. Daljit Singh and Assistant Director Dr. Sandeep Singh etc. were present.

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