The Unfolding Tragedy: Punjab’s Battle Against Drugs

In the streets of Amritsar, a 12-year-old boy collapses, his body ravaged by heroin. In a remote village, a family sits in darkness, having sold everything to feed their son’s addiction. A mother mourns her 19-year-old, a syringe still in his lifeless hand. This is Punjab’s reality—a state gripped by a drug crisis that destroys lives, shatters families, and threatens national security. Fueled by its proximity to the Golden Crescent, systemic corruption, and socio-economic despair, Punjab’s battle against drug trafficking is a fight for its future. This article explores the scale, causes, consequences, and overlooked impact on women, proposing urgent solutions to reclaim hope.

The Shocking Scale of the Crisis

Punjab’s drug epidemic is staggering. The 2015 Punjab Opioid Dependence Survey revealed that 76% of opioid dependents are aged 18–35, with 4 out of 100 males in this group dependent on opioids and 15 out of 100 using them. In border districts, a 2023 study by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, found 75.8% of drug abusers are aged 15–35. Alarmingly, 66% of schoolchildren consume gutka or tobacco, with every third male and every tenth female student experimenting with drugs. Seven out of ten college students are engaged in drug abuse. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates India has 1 million registered heroin addicts, potentially 5 million unofficially, with Punjab alone accounting for over 2.3 lakh opioid dependents, consuming drugs worth ₹7,500 crore annually.

Causes of the Epidemic

Geographical Vulnerability

Punjab’s proximity to the Golden Crescent—Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—makes it a prime transit point for heroin, opium, poppy husk, and pharmaceutical drugs. Smugglers exploit porous borders, with drones increasingly used to transport narcotics. In 2024, over 200 drones were seized, doubling the previous year’s count, yet an estimated 70% of shipments evade detection.

Socio-Economic Despair

Unemployment, at 9.2% in Q1 2025, far exceeds the national average, driving youth to drugs as an escape. The decline of agriculture and lack of sustainable job opportunities leave young people vulnerable, with many turning to peddling to fund their addiction. A 2025 socioeconomic assessment by Punjabi University estimated the crisis costs Punjab ₹8,700 crore annually in healthcare, lost productivity, and enforcement.

Police-Politician-Drug Mafia Nexus

Corruption fuels the crisis. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau registered 127 cases against police personnel for drug-related corruption from January 2024 to April 2025, including three deputy superintendents and 17 inspectors arrested in February 2025 for facilitating narcotics worth over ₹200 crore. Political patronage, with some leaders allegedly shielding traffickers for votes, sustains this cycle.

Devastating Consequences

Health Crisis

Intravenous drug use has spiked HIV and hepatitis cases, with 76% of opioid users injecting heroin and 64% using propoxyphene, often with shared syringes. Drug overdoses claim countless lives, with 782 confirmed deaths from January 2024 to April 2025, though experts estimate the true figure could be 2–3 times higher due to underreporting. Dr. Jagdeep Pall Singh Bhatia, a Punjab psychologist, reports over 100 new addiction cases daily.

Financial Ruin

Addicts often sell household items, jewelry, or homes to sustain their habits, plunging families into poverty. The ₹7,500 crore illegal drug trade fuels crime and corruption, draining Punjab’s economy.

Social Breakdown

Addiction tears families apart, with parents begging authorities to imprison their children in hopes of saving them. Intoxicated youth drive rising crime rates, including theft and violence, making cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana unsafe at night. Public distrust in police and political complicity deepens community despair.

Impact on Women: The Overlooked Victims

Women bear a unique burden in Punjab’s drug crisis. Eight-year-old Pinky, born with withdrawal symptoms due to her mother’s addiction, lost her mother days after birth. Another woman, battling domestic issues, became addicted, only to see her children follow suit. She now works as a daily wage laborer, enrolled in a state-run rehabilitation center, lamenting, “It was not possible to ensure they didn’t get addicted because I was addicted myself.”

Dr. Preet Singh, a medical officer, notes that while fewer women than men are addicted, societal stigma makes their struggle harder. Of India’s female drug addicts, 16% are from Punjab, facing ostracization and barriers to treatment. Some women face passive addiction, coerced by addicted husbands, while others turn to drugs to cope with domestic or economic stress. One woman shared, “When we don’t work and sit at home, there are ten more problems to worry about. If we go out for work, there’s a chance to drop this addiction.” Many believe timely intervention and stable jobs could aid recovery.

Current Efforts and Challenges

Punjab’s response includes enforcement, rehabilitation, and awareness, but systemic issues persist:

• Law Enforcement: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and border seizures (1,470 kg of heroin in 2024) aim to curb supply, but corruption and political interference undermine efforts.

• Rehabilitation: 623 treatment facilities operate at 182% capacity, with a 64% relapse rate due to inadequate psychological support. Addiction to de-addiction drugs like buprenorphine is rising.

• Policy Initiatives: The 2025–26 budget allocated ₹150 crore for a drug census, and ₹1,200 crore for intervention programs, but 42% of funds face utilization inefficiencies.

The Way Forward

Punjab’s drug crisis demands a multi-faceted approach:

• Strengthen Law Enforcement: Independent investigations and accountability mechanisms must dismantle the police-politician-mafia nexus. Enhanced border security, including anti-drone technology, is critical.

• Prioritize Rehabilitation: Expand and fund rehabilitation centers, emphasizing psychological support and harm reduction over criminalization. Tailored programs for women, addressing stigma and passive addiction, are essential.

• Create Opportunities: Sustainable job programs, beyond short-term schemes, can deter youth from drugs. Vocational training and agricultural revitalization could address unemployment.

• Break the Mafia Nexus: Target high-level traffickers with transparent investigations, reducing political patronage.

• Raise Awareness: Leverage documentaries and social media to share success stories, countering despair with hope. Community-led initiatives can rebuild trust and support families.

• Support Women: Provide gender-specific rehabilitation, job opportunities, and awareness campaigns to address women’s unique challenges.

Conclusion

Punjab’s drug crisis is a human tragedy, claiming lives and futures daily. With 2.3 lakh opioid dependents and a ₹7,500 crore drug trade, the stakes are immense. Immediate action—through accountable enforcement, robust rehabilitation, and economic reform—can break this cycle. Punjab must unite, from families to policymakers, to restore hope and save a generation.

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