Punjab de-addiction centre admissions surge following state initiative

Admissions at government-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Punjab have seen a significant increase, signaling growing public trust in the state's treatment infrastructure. Following the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign in March 2025, admissions to de-addiction centres rose from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025, representing an increase of over 164 per cent. By July 2026, more than 14,000 people had already been admitted.

Rehabilitation centre admissions also experienced a substantial surge, rising from 2,644 in 2024 to 8,574 in 2025, an increase of more than 224 per cent. By July 2026, over 5,800 admissions were recorded. Additionally, the Outpatient Opioid-Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinic network saw new registrations grow from 13,033 in 2024 to 17,702 in 2025, with over 12,500 new patients registering by August 2026.