Reform, rehabilitate and rise against drugs

Need stringent laws to check menace

Drug menace is a termite that is eating up our society. Consumption of drugs is a disaster to the physical and mental well-being, which in turn destroys the households, society and nation. The development of any nation depends upon its citizens and youth. If they are stacked in this menace, how can they contribute to its prosperity? Stringent, non-repealing laws should be enforced with full strictness and must remain resistant to any influence by politicians or bureaucrats. Their intensity should instil utmost fear in the minds of those dealing with contraband in any way. Judicial amendments and rigorous punishment should shirk anyone from indulging in such trade. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and China deal with such culprits in the harshest of ways, including the death penalty. As said, “Where there is will, there is a way.” Combined support of public, police and authorities can definitely curb this menace to a bare minimum.

Dr Raman Gupta

Geographical risk and strategy

Punjab’s geographical location within the golden crescent makes it vulnerable to the heroin and cocaine trade. Enhancing border controls and cooperation with neighbouring countries can help curb the supply of narcotics. Addressing socioeconomic issues, such as poverty, can also reduce the demand for drugs. Given the increasing involvement of women in drug cases, often from denotified tribes or rural backgrounds, targeted support and empowerment programs can help address this trend. Collaborations between government agencies, NGOs, and private organisations can amplify the impact of anti-drug initiatives. Regular monitoring and evaluation of current strategies can help identify areas for improvement and optimise resource allocation. By adopting a multi-pronged approach that addresses the root causes of the problem, Punjab can make significant strides in tackling its drug menace.

Kuldeep Singh

Public movement essential

Despite appreciable steps taken by government and central agencies to curb the drug menace, there are a lot of other things that need to be done. The government can never succeed in curbing any ill of society alone. A movement against any ills like drugs, female foeticide, or corruption cannot succeed until it becomes a public movement. Everyone from society—be it a teacher or a preacher, doctor or a lawyer, shopkeeper or business owner, policeman or a politician or any common man—has to rise and fight against the culprits destroying thousands of families through the drug business. The recent incident of finding tobacco, vapes and drugs in school bags of students during checking in a Nasik school has shocked the whole country. We as parents have to be more vigilant and more communicative with kids. Chapters on the ill effects of any addiction should be included in the syllabus of boards. NGOs and religious bodies should take the lead in spreading awareness against drugs. Padyatras by people who have left drugs and are living normal lives will be more valuable than all the official padyatras.

Dr Naresh Chawla

Comprehensive action needed

To effectively address the drug problem in Punjab, the government’s current efforts, such as demolishing houses of drug peddlers and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s march and meetings with village defence committees, are steps in the right direction. However, more comprehensive strategies are needed. Strengthening legal systems to close loopholes that allow trafficking to persist is crucial. This can be achieved by improving law enforcement’s ability to dismantle organised networks and by targeting top-tier traffickers. Providing alternative livelihoods and enhancing education can help reduce vulnerability to substance abuse, especially among at-risk populations. Sustained focus on rehabilitation initiatives, such as awareness campaigns, cyclothons, street plays and gully cricket, can promote recovery and support affected families. Empowering village defence committees and setting up all-women anti-drug committees can help combat drug abuse at the grassroots level.

Sarwan Singh

Rehabilitation of drug victims

Every individual should contribute towards the cause of eradication of drug abuse from society. However, while the government and NGOs are making their individual efforts, even when the Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria embarked upon a six-day padyatra from the Kartarpur Corridor after taking blessings of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, to bring all the stakeholders on a common platform, the representatives of the state government refrained from participating in the campaign. They paid little heed to the Governor’s call to come and join hands—be it political compulsions or an indifferent attitude—they showed little seriousness by not participating in the campaign, at least to demonstrate to the people that they were committed. Until and unless we are united and stop making individual efforts, we cannot end the drug scourge from society. Efficient steps for the rehabilitation of drug victims are also missing.

Sudhir Sharma

Government should form a policy

There has been no proper arrangement or facility for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. The drug abuse victims relapse after a few rounds of treatment and detoxification in the de-addiction centres. The state government has no policy for keeping track of those receiving treatments or doing necessary follow-ups. The majority of the victims belong to medium- to low-income families. Apart from dealing with those involved in drug peddling with an iron hand, the government should also form a policy for the rehabilitation of drug victims. It has been a major challenge.

Dr Jagdeep Singh

Invest in education, employment

To check the menace, the government and authorities need to be selected, elected and watched by the councillors and village heads who have a positive mind-set and are people-oriented. The youth need to be guided and disciplined and young children need to be groomed on basic human values, education, distinction of right and wrong and the value of hard work. Parents, teachers and the community need to control the tendency for show-offs. Superiority complex, comparisons, unhealthy talk, abusive language and uncaring attitudes have made many of us loud and worthless. Life is interlinked with every aspect of living it. Let the youth struggle under practical supervision and support. The current behaviour has ruined the psyche of youth from a very young age. Don’t make a show-off of marriages, births and other occasions. Spend and behave discreetly. Invest in education and employment. Evolve in growth—economic, scientific and technological. Preserve the great state. It’s a poor state of rich people in the context of loans against infrastructure and land. Together we can—but only with a healthy, evolved mindset and education.

Manpreet Kaur

Break police-criminal nexus

First step: transfer ASI-level officers from east to west and north to south. Big reshuffle. Some IPS officers should be exchanged with those from the Centre or other far-off states. This will help in breaking the nexus between the police and criminals.

Manmohan Singh

Employment can help curb addiction

Education and employment generation is the most important thing that the government should focus on, so that unemployed youth can get jobs and their mindset can be changed.

Vaneet Thakur

Accountability at the top

There should be a check at higher levels of police and even on politicians. A strict policy should not only be implemented but also applied effectively.

Raghav Arora

Track youth transactions

Cash circulation during various events is a major reason. Stop giving cash payments to school-going children and students. Online payments have easier tracing mechanisms. Keep checks on bank statements and verify every transaction periodically.

Bobby Madan

Governor, govt should work in tandem

Drug menace has become a monster for the AAP-led state government due to its lackadaisical attitude in reining in the big fish involved in the drug trade. It is strange that the Governor office has to initiate a campaign against drugs each time with not much support from elected government. After Delhi defeat, AAP government in Punjab started a demolition drive against petty peddlers to score brownie points vis a vis Governor embarking on Padyatra. The Governor and state government should work in tandem to eradicate the menace. School heads should also be involved as teachers can wean youngsters off drugs.

Anil Vinayak

Channelise youth energy

The Padyatra by Governor Gulab Chand is a laudable initiative and can be regarded as walking the talk against drug abuse. However, a holistic solution to end the scourge beyond generating awareness is the need of the hour. This requires breaking with all our might the mafia-politico-administrative nexus due to which the supply side proliferates. Enlisting the support of women, empowering them to save their next generations is the way forward. The youth requires to be skilled, academically equipped and provided with ample opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship to realise their aspirations. Channelising youth energy towards fruitful pursuits such as sports, nation building, and vocations and providing Central jobs to residents of the state’s border areas are imperative.

Gunbir Singh

Create employment opportunities

The foremost step in tackling the rampant drug menace is to arrest the major drug peddlers—those who operate at the top of the chain and continue to fuel this crisis. Nabbing these “big fish” is often discussed, but now it must translate into real action. Secondly, widespread awareness campaigns must be initiated to educate the youth about the harmful effects of drug consumption. Equally important is the need to generate employment opportunities on a large scale. When educated youth face a lack of job prospects, frustration sets in—making them more vulnerable to the lure of drugs. Lastly, the number of drug rehabilitation centres must be increased, with proper treatment provided by professionally trained and certified doctors. Only a multi-pronged approach combining enforcement, awareness, employment, and rehabilitation can break the cycle of drug abuse.

Sanjay Chawla

Long-term Preventive strategy essential

Effectively combating the drug problem requires a holistic and long-term preventive strategy beyond punitive action and awareness drives. Introducing a drug mapping system integrated with geographic information systems (GIS) can help identify high-risk zones and track repeat offenders. Mandatory anti-drug education programs, coupled with adequate counselling services, should be implemented across all levels of schooling—including primary, secondary, vocational institutions, and rural youth development colleges. Rehabilitation centres also need a transformation. It should not only involve physical detox but also focus on mental health, psychological healing, skill-building, and reintegrating individuals into society. Community-based anti-drug task forces—comprising educators, health workers, youth leaders, and law enforcement—should be created to track trends and recommend action. Police should actively monitor and report suspicious activities, while enhanced cross-border intelligence sharing is vital to dismantle supply chains.

Tushar Batra

Amritsar