Drug addiction continues to cast a long shadow despite repeated government campaigns, tougher policing and expanded rehabilitation facilities.
In the early hours of the morning, when most of Punjab is still wrapped in sleep, 28-year-old Harman (name changed) is already awake. Not by choice, but because of the craving coursing through his veins.
“I knew the drugs would kill me one day. But when the craving starts, you don’t think about death,” said the 28-year-old recovering drug addict from Punjab, who requested anonymity as he continues treatment at a de-addiction centre. Having battled heroin addiction for nearly eight years, he says he lost his job, exhausted his family’s savings and alienated friends before finally seeking help.
“I stole money from my own house. My parents stopped trusting me. I wasn’t living anymore, I was just surviving for the next injection,” he said.
His story mirrors that of thousands of young men across Punjab, where drug addiction continues to cast a long shadow despite repeated government campaigns, tougher policing and expanded rehabilitation facilities. While authorities point to major seizures and arrests, experts argue that addiction remains deeply rooted in social, economic and geographical realities that cannot be solved through enforcement alone.
Official figures underline the scale of the problem. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Punjab registered 8,973 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2024, among the highest in the country. The NCRB also recorded 106 drug overdose deaths in the state during the year, reflecting the continuing human cost of narcotics abuse.
Punjab’s location along the 553-kilometre international border with Pakistan has made it particularly vulnerable to cross-border trafficking. Security agencies have repeatedly reported the use of drones to smuggle heroin, synthetic drugs and weapons into the state. The increasing sophistication of trafficking networks has made policing more challenging than ever.
However, geography alone does not explain the persistence of the crisis.
Experts point to rising unemployment, declining returns from agriculture, easy availability of narcotics, peer pressure and inadequate mental health support as factors that have fuelled addiction over the past two decades. In many rural areas, young people struggling with limited employment opportunities have become particularly vulnerable to substance abuse.
According to the NCRB, Punjab continues to report one of the highest rates of NDPS cases relative to its population, highlighting that the state remains at the centre of India’s battle against narcotics.
For those working on the ground, the crisis extends beyond law enforcement.
Social worker Balbir Singh, who has spent years counselling recovering addicts and campaigning against drug abuse, said arrests alone cannot eliminate the problem.
“Drug addiction is not just a crime issue; it is a health and social issue. Unless we rehabilitate addicts, create employment opportunities and ensure families receive counselling, the cycle will continue,” he explained.
The Punjab government maintains that it has intensified action against drug traffickers through its “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign. Officials say intelligence-led policing has resulted in major heroin seizures, arrests of smugglers and demolition of illegally constructed properties linked to drug networks.
Defending the government’s campaign, an Aam Aadmi Party MLA requesting anonymity said the administration was pursuing a twin strategy of strict enforcement against suppliers and rehabilitation of addicts.
“Previous governments allowed the drug menace to spread. Our government is attacking the supply chain while expanding treatment facilities so that young people can return to normal life,” he said.
Government figures indicate that over 90,000 individuals have received treatment through de-addiction and Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres since the campaign began in March 2025. Authorities argue that rehabilitation has become as important as policing in tackling the crisis.
Yet many addiction experts believe the challenge remains enormous. Organised trafficking networks continue to exploit Punjab’s strategic location, while economic distress and social vulnerabilities provide a steady pool of potential users.
For the recovering addict, however, statistics and government claims are secondary.
“Recovery isn’t about staying away from drugs for a week or a month,” said an 18-year-old recovering addict at another rehabilitation centre. “It’s about fighting yourself every single day. I don’t want another young boy to go through what I did.”
His words capture the reality behind Punjab’s drug epidemic. Every seizure reported by police, every case registered under the NDPS Act and every rehabilitation programme represents a much larger human story — one of broken families, lost opportunities and a continuing struggle to reclaim lives from addiction.
