Anti-Drug Campaign Transforms Many Lives Through Ooat Clinics And Drug De-Addiction Centers

District Public Relations Office, Patiala

The Journey from Dusk to Dawn

Anti-Drug Campaign Transforms Many Lives through OOAT Clinics and Drug De-addiction Centers

-Many of them Living Dignified Lives After Quitting Drugs

-12 OOAT Clinics of Patiala District Become Carrier of Hope

-Red Cross Saket Hospital Showing the Way of Success to the Drug Victims by Helping Them to Get Rid of The Addiction

Patiala, June 24:

The youth who were once drug victims are now living a dignified life again after getting themselves treated through the OOAT clinics and drug de-addiction centers run by the government under the Anti-drug Campaign.
The Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign has completely transformed the lives of several drug victim youth after providing them treatment. The young man who have got rid of drugs and became the earning hand of his family has appealed to other youngsters like him to stay away from the addiction of drugs.
After recovering from the Red Cross Society’s Saket De-addiction and Rehabilitation Center, a young man said that the government’s de-addiction drive had given him a new life. The young man, who has long been addicted to drugs said that in the past, there was contempt from all quarters and now there is love and respect. By profession, a farmer, he is doing all his agriculture work on his own.
“Chemical drugs not only exhaust the body, rather, in a state of intoxication there is also a tendency of falling in crime. Besides drug overdose also proves fatal ,” he said. Giving credit to Saket Hospital, he said the care and counseling given here, has transformed his life.
The OOAT (Out Patient Opiad Assited) clinics operating in Patiala district are also proving to be a better way for drug victims to shun the drugs and return to the normalcy of life and mainstream of society.
People who came for treatment at an OOAT clinic in the city, on condition of anonymity, said that it was better to stay in the family and quit drugs than to be admitted and treated. He also appealed to other drug addicts to seek the help of these OOAT clinics for their treatment.
Narrating his tale, he said that for one reason or another, he got stuck in the mire of drugs but after that it became difficult to get rid of drugs. They have gradually become a means of de-addiction. He said that this is the best way of treatment without being hospitalized, which does not make it difficult for him to carry out his daily and routine activities and he is also getting rid of this problem.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, some more patients (drug victims) said that even though they wanted to get their treatment, they could not get into the de-addiction centers due to domestic constraints but the OOAT centers have shown a way to get treatment for shunning the drugs easily.
District Nodal Officer of OOAT Centers, Dr. Sajila Khan said that even during the Covid pandemic, the OOAT centers kept in touch with the patients and the counselors were giving them full information about the medicine and giving them medicine for 14 days, so that the patients did not face any problem .
A 50-year-old patient who was being cured at an OOAT clinic in Ghanour said that after getting addicted with Opium, it was becoming difficult to survive financially and physically. He was told by his known person about the OOAT clinic and he contacted the doctor and Counselor here. Now, he is feeling better and thanking the staff for giving him another ray of hope to shun the drugs.
Dr. Jasjot Singh Deol of OOAT Clinic of Ghanour Hospital, said that the urine test of the patients, coming to these clinics is done to find out the kind of drug, he used to consume and accordingly, the alternative medicine is given to them. He was issued a number by linking his UID (ADHAAR) to give him a unique online identity, by use of which the patient can go to any OOAT clinic in Punjab and get the medicine.
Dr. Deol said that these clinics treat patients addicted of Opium, Heroin, Poppy Husk, Synthetic Drugs and Smack etc. who get the opportunity to seek treatment from specialist doctors, paramedical staff and counselors. He said that the patient gives up drugs and starts taking medicine and after some time his body is examined and after completion of his treatment the patient becomes drug free.
Project Director Parvinder Kaur Manchanda says that in order to get rid of drugs, not only medicine but also other means need to be used to make a complete change in thinking and behavior of the victim. She said that along with medicine, counseling, yoga and prayers also proved to be successful in taking them away from the mire of drugs. She said that in her 25-year career, she has seen hundreds of young people return to life from darkness, with the relentless efforts of government, the staff besides the determination of the youth, that also matters.
Deputy Commissioner Patiala Kumar Amit said that Saket Hospital, Central Jail Patiala, Civil Hospital Nabha, CHCs Samana, Rajpura, Model Town, Tripuri, Kalomajra, Bhadson, Ghanour, Dudhan Sadhan and Patran are among the 12 OOAT Centers, where 4932 patients have been registered so far and many of them have been recovered and living their respectful lives.

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