Bhagwant Mann Govt's Harm-Reduction Services Strengthen Punjab’s 'Yudh Nashean Virudh'
Bhagwant Mann government's harm-reduction services, a key component ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, are emerging as an important pillar of the state’s fight against substance abuse.
Chandigarh: Harm reduction services under the Bhagwant Mann Government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign are emerging as a key component of Punjab’s fight against substance abuse, with hundreds of treatment centres providing counselling, medication and support to people suffering from substance use disorder. People suffering from substance use disorder can access harm reduction services through 547 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres run by the state Health Department and 47 Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres operated by the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, besides Targeted Intervention Services.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), harm reduction includes interventions aimed at reducing the health and social harms associated with drug use, including the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections. Evidence shows that effective harm reduction programmes can help prevent the spread of HIV among people who inject drugs, reduce overdose deaths and address social exclusion.
‘Treatment and Empathy Essential for Recovery’
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh described harm reduction as an essential part of the government’s comprehensive response to addiction. He said victims of substance abuse must be approached with empathy and provided treatment and skills to help them return to a dignified and productive life.
OOAT Centres Provide Counselling and Medication
The state’s largest harm reduction intervention is being implemented through more than 500 OOAT centres, where patients receive counselling and prescribed medication for opioid use disorder. The treatment primarily uses Buprenorphine (BPN) or a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone under the supervision of government psychiatrists.
Patients generally visit OOAT centres daily to receive their prescribed dosage. Those meeting prescribed criteria may also be provided medication for home use for a fixed period.
Dr Atul Ambekar, Professor at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS Delhi, said Opioid Substitution Treatment or Opioid Agonist Treatment is recommended as the first-choice strategy for long-term treatment of opioid dependence.
Daily Medication Does Not Mean Replacing One Addiction With Another
Dr Ambekar said the treatment is sometimes wrongly perceived as replacing one addiction with another because the medicines used may themselves have addictive properties. He explained that taking prescribed medication every day for a prolonged period does not make a person an ‘addict’, just as long-term medication for other health conditions does not constitute addiction.
Focus on Safer Injection Practices
The programme also focuses on educating drug users about the health risks associated with substance use and encouraging them to seek treatment. For people who continue to inject drugs, health teams provide counselling on safer injection practices, including avoiding the reuse or sharing of syringes.
These interventions aim to reduce the risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections.
Methadone Treatment Network Being Expanded
Punjab is also expanding its treatment options through oral substitution therapy, particularly liquid methadone. Six dedicated methadone clinics are currently operational in Faridkot, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Mohali and Jalandhar, offering an alternative to Buprenorphine-based treatment.
The state is establishing six additional methadone maintenance treatment centres, which will take the total number of dedicated facilities to 12.
‘Comprehensive Treatment Can Improve Recovery Outcomes’
Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said methadone maintenance therapy, being implemented in accordance with WHO and National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines, provides an effective treatment option for people living with long-term opioid dependence.
He said the expanded treatment network would help improve recovery outcomes and support patients in successfully reintegrating with their families and society.
