Chandigarh, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Admissions at Punjab government de-addiction centres increased by more than 164 per cent in a year, rising from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025, indicating a growing number of individuals and families turning to formal treatment and rehabilitation services amid the state’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign.
The upward trend has continued in 2026, with more than 14,000 people admitted to government de-addiction centres by July. The state said the increase has followed the launch of ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ in March 2025 and reflects greater willingness among people affected by addiction to seek institutional support.
Government rehabilitation centres have also recorded a substantial rise in admissions. The number increased from 2,644 in 2024 to 8,574 in 2025, a jump of more than 224 per cent. By July 2026, over 5,800 people had already been admitted, accounting for nearly 68 per cent of the admissions recorded during the whole of 2025.
The treatment network also includes Punjab’s Outpatient Opioid-Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. New registrations at these facilities increased from 13,033 in 2024 to 17,702 in 2025, while more than 12,500 new patients had registered by August 2026.
The figures indicate an expanding treatment ecosystem offering multiple avenues for people struggling with substance dependence, including de-addiction centres, rehabilitation facilities and outpatient treatment.
Punjab has also used provisions under the law to encourage people affected by addiction to seek treatment. As of August 27, 2026, more than 11,000 individuals had been granted immunity under Section 64A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The provision offers legal immunity to people suffering from drug addiction or those charged with consumption or possession of drugs, subject to the conditions prescribed under the law.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the sharp increase in admissions was among the most encouraging indicators of the state’s anti-drug initiative.
“For Punjab, the sharp increase in admissions is proving to be one of the most encouraging indicators of the initiative: people are increasingly stepping forward, families are seeking institutional support and the state’s treatment network is reaching individuals who may otherwise have remained outside the formal system,” he said.
He said ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ was built around three pillars — enforcement against drug smugglers, treatment and rehabilitation for those affected, and prevention aimed at protecting children from drugs.
“With treatment and rehabilitation, our effort is to bring people back from addiction, restore families and give those struggling with substance abuse a genuine pathway to recovery,” Dr Balbir Singh added.
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