Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 3
The Punjab authorities has been urged to give opium or poppy husk on prescription to drug addicts in a managed approach, with an NGO headed by a former IPS officer and some others writing to the Punjab Governor, saying this can assist in tackling the drug downside within the state. They stated due to artificial medicine, addicts have gotten impotent, crime is rising and so are circumstances of divorce.
It has been submitted that the Punjab Cabinet ought to amend the NDPS Act and there ought to be no police case in opposition to these possessing 5 grams opium and 500 grams poppy husk.
The letter written to the Punjab Governor, Punjab Chief Minister, Ministers and all MLAs by Iqbal Singh Gill (Retd) IPS officer and General Secretary Jaswant Singh Chhapa and Dr Inderjeet Singh, Project Director of Dr Dwarka Nath Kotnis Health and Education Centre (Charitable Acupunture Hospital and Research Centre), Ludhiana, states, “As in your info if one takes artificial medicine, it’s bodily and mentally dangerous. But it has been observed that if one takes opium or poppy husk, there aren’t any bodily or psychological unwanted side effects. Also, individuals who take artificial medicine don’t suppose earlier than committing any crime as they lose their psychological stability. Thus rapes, thefts, dacoits, snatching are on the rise in Punjab. Besides these, circumstances of divorce have additionally elevated.”
The letter additionally acknowledged that the state authorities may have to shell out much less on medicines for drug addicts and can earn income if poppy husks are offered legally. They urged that after due deliberations and discussions, the federal government ought to situation a notification and permit sale of poppy husks to drug addicts registered with it from state managed centres to save the youth of the state and produce down the crime price.
Dr Dwarka Nath Kotnis Health & Education Centre, Ludhiana, has performed a key function in de-addiction of youth since 1995 and has been felicitated by the Punjab authorities from time to time.
“It could also be talked about right here that the governments haven’t completed a lot with regard to drug abuse and the steps taken by your good-self present your intention to carry out the youth from this drug habit”, they’ve stated.
The letter has additional acknowledged that a whole bunch of youth from poor households are falling prey to drug habit, which has ruined their lives which is a matter of grave concern within the state. It has been added that even the women had been falling prey to it.
During the final authorities a number of youth misplaced their lives from Chitta (‘Chitta’ or diacetylmorphine is an adulterated type of heroin), after which the federal government banned the usage of syringes and a few medicine. The authorities was apprised that this might lead to enhance in HIV infections and would lead to pricey remedy of the poor and this order was withdrawn.
The NGO has despatched some suggestions to the Punjab Government.
As per the suggestions, it has been acknowledged that whereas excise act will not be carried out on two liquor bottles, there’s NDPS Act on 5 gram opium or half kg poppy husk, including that these two didn’t have well being hazards.
The NGO has requested that the problem be taken up within the Punjab Cabinet and a notification on this regard be issued. The notification ought to enable the youth which is into artificial medicine, to eat 5 grams opium and 500 grams poppy husk. “This would additionally maintain a verify on the smuggling from neighbouring international locations and curb crime as nicely, in addition to in fact it can carry down drug trafficking circumstances within the courts”, the illustration added.
Iqbal Singh and Inderjeet Singh advised mediapersons that the Punjab authorities had launched a license system for establishing de-addiction centres and having a psychiatrist was made necessary, not understanding that drug habit is extra of a social evil and never a psychological situation.
“In 1995, solely aged used to come to de-addiction centres, however now kids and ladies are additionally victims of medication. However, there aren’t any de-addiction centres for ladies and juveniles, who can’t be referred to de-addiction centres and solely counselling is completed,” they stated. They added, “What was required is modification and simple circumstances ought to be laid down for establishing such centres, including that 35 years again opium was prescribed as a step in direction of detoxing, which ought to be launched once more,” they added.
If the federal government desires to eradicate this drug habit menace from Punjab, it ought to take rapid steps in order that Punjab shall be medicine free, they stated.
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