Harm-reduction services being provided by the Punjab government under its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign are emerging as an important component of the state’s strategy to tackle substance abuse. The services aim to provide treatment to people affected by drug dependence while reducing the health and social risks associated with drug use.
The initiative focuses not only on treatment but also on preventing stigma and supporting the dignified reintegration of people affected by substance use disorders into society.
547 OOAT and 47 OST Centres Providing Services
For people affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD), the Punjab Health Department is operating 547 Outpatient Opioid-Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres, while the Punjab State AIDS Control Society is running 47 Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres. Support is also being provided through targeted intervention programmes for people who use drugs.
Focus on Treatment and Dignified Reintegration
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has described harm reduction as an essential component of the state’s broader strategy to address drug dependence.
He said people affected by substance use need to be treated with sensitivity and provided with appropriate treatment, support and skills to facilitate their dignified reintegration into society.
The government’s approach also seeks to prevent people from avoiding treatment because of stigma and social exclusion and help them return to mainstream society.
Medication and Counseling Available at OOAT Centres
OOAT centres are among the key components of Punjab’s harm-reduction programme. Patients receive counseling and medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder at these centres.
Certain medicines used for the management of acute or chronic pain are also provided on the prescription of a government psychiatrist.
The treatment primarily involves buprenorphine (BPN) or a buprenorphine-naloxone combination. Under prescribed protocols, patients are generally required to visit the centre daily to receive their medication. Eligible patients may also be allowed to take medication home for a specified period.
According to Dr Atul Ambekar, Professor at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS Delhi, opioid substitution treatment or opioid agonist treatment is considered among the major treatment options for the long-term management of opioid dependence.
Experts Address the ‘One Addiction Replacing Another’ Misconception
Dr Atul Ambekar also highlighted a common misconception surrounding medication-assisted treatment.
Since some medicines used in treatment can themselves lead to dependence, they are sometimes perceived as simply replacing one addiction with another. However, he explained that several health conditions may require long-term medication, sometimes for many years or even lifelong, and taking prescribed medication regularly does not by itself mean that a person is addicted.
Awareness About Safer Injection Practices
Harm-reduction programmes also focus on educating people who use drugs about health risks and encouraging them to seek treatment. For people who continue to inject drugs, healthcare teams provide counselling on safer injection practices. This includes advice against reusing syringes and guidance on practices that can reduce the risk of blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis.
The aim is to reduce health risks while encouraging individuals to access appropriate treatment and support services.
Methadone Therapy Options Expanded
The Punjab government has also included methadone maintenance therapy among the treatment options available for opioid dependence.
At present, six dedicated clinics providing oral substitution therapy through liquid methadone are operating in Faridkot, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Mohali and Jalandhar.
Another six methadone maintenance treatment centres are being established in the state. Once operational, the total number of dedicated methadone centres will increase to 12.
Treatment Aligned With WHO and NACO Guidelines
According to Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, methadone maintenance therapy, in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), provides an additional treatment option for people dealing with long-term opioid dependence.
The Punjab government’s harm-reduction approach combines medical treatment, counselling, health-risk prevention and social reintegration as part of its broader efforts to address substance use in the state.