Drug addiction on rise in Sangrur, Barnala
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 21
When 19-year-old Raju Singh, a college student, was released from a de-addiction centre, he was told to keep away from drugs. However, ignoring the advice, he continued to take drugs and died last month.

This is not only a single case. Nowadays, a number of youths in the Malwa belt, especially in Sangrur and Barnala, are taking to drugs.

Sources at a local district hospital here said the problem was acute in Lehra Gaga; Dhuri; Sangrur city and the Malerkotla area of Sangrur and Barnala, as maximum cases were reported from these areas. What was more shocking was the fact that out of 10 patients, 30 per cent were girls, they added.

The record of patients undergoing treatment at the Red Cross drug de-addiction centre here for the past four years showed that there had been an increase in the number of cases.

According to the record, the centre received 3-4 cases on a daily basis in 2005. At present, the centre receives 8-10 cases on a daily basis, marking an increase of more than 250 per cent.

“When we had started this centre in 2005, we used to receive 3-4 patients on a daily basis . But at present, the number has swelled to 8-10. And majority of those seeking de-addiction at the centre are youth in the age group of 18-25 years,” says Mohan Sharma, project director of the centre.

Dr DV Parashar, medical officer at the centre, said there had been a marked change in the nature of drugs used by addicts over the years.

“Earlier, they used to take alcohol, bhukki, opium or smack, but nowadays, they have switched to painkillers or cough syrups as they are easily available and are cheap,” Dr Parashar added.