Punjab to hire more psychiatrists to deal with drug menace

To reach out more aggressively to the people with information on various anti-drug government programmes, Singh asked the health department to involve SDMs, BDPOs and village panchayats in dissemination programmes.

The list of the nearest Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres should be displayed on billboards and hoardings at strategic places, including bus stands, government hospitals and civil dispensaries in all cities, towns and villages across the state, he said.

The chief minister also directed the ministers in-charge of the districts concerned to hold regular meetings, along with the MLAs, to keep strict vigil over the treatment and medical care facilities being extended to the drug addicts at the government drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.

Singh asked the Sports & Youth Welfare Department to evolve an action plan for the revival of youth clubs in villages and encourage these clubs to regularly organise kabbadi, volleyball and hockey tournaments in order to constructively channelise the energy of youth.

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