Chandigarh, Sept. 21 -- Punjab's 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign against drugs has expanded beyond police crackdown, with the state adopting a five-point strategy involving police, teachers, youth, community volunteers and health workers to curb drug supply, prevent addiction, improve reporting and facilitate treatment.

The campaign by the Bhagwant Mann government has reached villages, schools, colleges and health facilities. Police target drug networks, community representatives strengthen vigilance, teachers identify vulnerability, youth promote healthier choices, and health workers support recovery.

According to officials, the campaign has resulted in the seizure of 3,918 kg of heroin, 991 kg of opium, 47 tonnes of poppy husk, 1,416 kg of ganja and 65 lakh tablets and capsules. Police have also held 79,293 public meetings to strengthen participation.

Prevention is the second pillar, with a 14-week anti-drug curriculum being taught to 7.5 lakh students in 3,600 schools. The government is also sensitising teachers to recognise vulnerability to substance abuse. In the first phase, nearly 25,000 teachers from 13 districts are to be trained, with 7,000 already sensitised in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Fazilka.

The third pillar focuses on peer influence and reducing acceptance of drug use. Schools have prepared activity calendars, while cultural festivals, mental-health clubs and sports activities encourage healthier lifestyles. Youth-led programmes and recovered persons are also helping reduce stigma around recovery.

The fourth pillar seeks citizen participation. By September 2026, around 1.25 lakh people had joined nearly 15,000 Village and Ward Defence Committees, with more than 50,000 members trained to use the Nasha Mukti App. Since March 1, 2025, more than 51,000 citizen tip-offs through the Safe Punjab WhatsApp Helpline have helped police make over 25,000 drug-related arrests.

The fifth pillar focuses on treatment. Punjab has 547 OOAT centres, 219 de-addiction centres and 91 rehabilitation centres. Admissions to government de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities rose from over 12,200 in 2024 to nearly 34,000 in 2025, an increase of more than 170 per cent.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.