Jalandhar, August 9, 2920: With over 13650 patients turning up for treatment, the government Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centers were emerging as a ray of hope for the drug dependents and their families in the district.
The district has ten OOAT centres in Shahkot, Kartarpur, Adampur, Shekhe, Philliaur, Nurmahal, Kala Bakra Nakodar, Lohian Khas and Apra.
As per the data available data, the total footfall registration at 10 OOAT centers was 13653 including 4768 OPD at Shekkhe, 2477 at Nakodar, 782 at Phillaur, 773 at Nurmahal, Adampur registered 1560 OPD, 708 at Kartarpur, 806 OPD at Apra, 530 at Shahkot, 781 at Kala Bakra and 468 at Lohian Khas.
The Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that surge in drug dependants coming for treatment in these OOAT centers reflect their eagerness to shun this curse, which was ruining the youth of the state.
Thori pointed out that massive crackdown on drug peddlers by Captain Amarinder Singh led state government coupled with large scale awareness programs DAPO, Buddy by the state government has brought awakening amongst the people.
He said that as a result of this the people were shunning the stigma attached with drug addiction and were freely coming to the centers for the treatment of their loved ones.
The Deputy Commissioner said that it was an encouraging trend but the district administration would continue its efforts until the entire district was not made drug free.
He said that these centers were the result of the commitment of the state government to wean away from this menace from the state through proper treatment and diagnosis of the drug addicts.