Chandigarh, Oct. 2 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave in-principle approval for a pilot project to strengthen psychosocial care for people battling drug addiction alongside medical treatment in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Fazilka.
The decision was taken during a meeting between Mann and a delegation of the Art of Living Foundation, an official statement said.
Mann said the Art of Living-based spiritual wellness programme would bridge the gap between medication-based treatment and sustained psychosocial rehabilitation. He said retaining patients in treatment during the initial months remained a major challenge and stressed the need to strengthen their mental resolve alongside medication.
The pilot will cover outpatient opioid-assisted treatment clinics and jails in Gurdaspur and Kapurthala. Trained local personnel will gradually take over its implementation to ensure sustained operation without dependence on external support.
Mann said the fight against drugs must extend beyond legal enforcement to rehabilitation, relapse prevention, community participation and long-term recovery.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.