164% Rise Recorded In Rehab Admissions After Punjab Anti-Drug Campaign
Punjab has seen a 164% increase in admissions to state-run de-addiction centers following the launch of the 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' anti-drug campaign. While the government views this as a sign of increased public trust and awareness, opposition parties continue to criticize the administration over the prevalence of narcotics.
Why it matters
Drug abuse is a central political issue in Punjab, and the interpretation of these statistics highlights the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of government health policies versus the reality of the drug crisis.
With drugs emerging as one of the biggest political flashpoints in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, fresh government data shows a sharp increase in the number of people seeking treatment at state-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.Admissions at government de-addiction centres rose from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025, an increase of around 164 per cent. More than 14,000 people had already been admitted by July 2026, indicating that the higher levels of treatment uptake have continued this year.The rise assumes political significance as the Bhagwant Mann government's "Yudh Nasheyan Virudh" campaign has become a key part of its governance narrative, while opposition parties have repeatedly targeted the AAP government over the persistence of drug abuse and the availability of narcotics in the state.The government, however, is presenting the rise in treatment numbers differently: as evidence that more people affected by drug dependence, and their families, are coming…
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