Chandigarh, Sept. 2 -- A report submitted by the Punjab government's prisons department to the high court has revealed that an alarming 45% of inmates in the state's jails are drug addicts.

The affidavit, submitted by additional director general of police (prisons), Rajesh Kumar, also said that the majority of the addicts are in the 18-45 age group.

The government response came following a suo motu plea initiated by the high court in July, after a June 23 report from the administrative judge, Mansa, said a large number of jail inmates, being drug addicts, are being administered Buprenorphine (2 mg) in combination with Naloxone (0.5 mg).

".out of a total 767 jail inmates, as many as 530 inmates are registered with the Out-Patient Opioid...