DC & CP embark on month-long awareness campaign against drug abuse

48 drug hotspots in city, strict action against those hotels, restaurants, pubs serving hookah –CP Dr Kaustubh Sharma

Ludhiana, November 2, 2022: In a bid to combat the scourge of drugs completely, the civil and police administration have launched a month-long mass level awareness campaign against drug abuse in collaboration with civil society, industry, educational institutions, NGOs and others for clean-up drugs. 
Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik and Commissioner of Police Dr Kaustubh Sharma in a press conference on Tuesday said that drive was our determination to strengthen the cooperation of all stakeholders to the achievement the society free of drugs. They said that sensitization drive against menace through school and college students, private health institutions, and industries would be ensured in every nook and corner of the city besides strict enforcement by cops against the peddlers. 
They said that 48 drugs hotspots were identified in city where special emphasis would be given where prevention and enforcement activities will be carried out at mass level. They said that health institutions would also hold special medical camps to offer treatment and counselling services to the drug dependants. Reformed drug dependants will also deliver lectures and share their stories to motivate others to shun drugs and contribute for socio-economic development of state. 
Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police said that under the visionary and dynamic leadership of the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the persistent efforts are being made to ensure that the menace of drugs gets completely wiped out. They said that the state government had opened drug de-addiction and OOAT centres for the treatment of the drug dependent youths. They also pointed out that these centres are changing the lives of drug-dependent youths by helping them to get rid of the drug abuse through proper treatment and counselling. 
Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said that 360-degree approach was being adopted to eliminate drugs completely jointly by civil and police administration in association of civil society. She appealed to one and all to become a part of the anti-drugs campaign as it was the collective responsibility of all to rescue youth from the clutches of drugs, which was destroying future generations.
Over being quizzed about some restaurants, pubs and hotels serving hookah, Commissioner of Police Dr Kaustubh Sharma said that special teams were already formed in this regard and SHOs were being directed to keep a vigil on such eateries and no one will be spared. He said that that the crackdown against drug peddlers was already intensified through setting up of special crack teams to lead severe action against drug peddlers. He said that it was important for everyone to support the administration in this fight against drugs in the interest of the Ludhiana's development and progress.