Drug overdose: Punjab stands out with 21% of the nation’s drug-related deaths
Punjab News: Punjab stands out with 21% of the nation’s drug-related deaths, as revealed in the recent report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Over the past four years, the state witnessed an alarming three-fold increase in fatalities due to drug overdoses. Despite comprising only 2.21% of the country’s population, Punjab alone contributes to 21% of these deaths.
The NCRB’s 2022 report sheds light on this issue, likely putting the Punjab government under scrutiny. In 2022, Punjab recorded 144 overdose deaths, constituting 21% of the nation’s total deaths. This starkly contrasts with the 45 lives lost in 2019, accounting for 6.39% of the national toll—an evident threefold surge over four years.
The figures show a notable rise from 71 overdose deaths in 2017 to 78 in 2018, with Haryana reporting only nine overdose deaths in 2022. Although Punjab hadn’t previously surpassed the 100-mark in overdose deaths, the sudden surge in 2022 has raised concerns. Despite the government’s efforts to combat drugs, the impact remains minimal, as seen in the consistent numbers.
Additionally, in 2022, 54 drug addicts took their own lives, whereas in 2021, this figure stood at 78. While the Punjab government has taken steps against drug abuse, the tangible difference in curbing this crisis remains limited.