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	Drugs Project in Punjab


	Punjab and especially the districts along the International border have passed through a traumatic phase in its recent history. The rise in the drug consumption in the border districts as elsewhere in Punjab has a direct relationship with the decline of the militant movement. Drugs have become a part of the young men's lives in the villages of the State, and are now also claiming the womenfolk of the region. In the recent years the youth of Punjab have been endlessly getting sucked into the vortex of drug abuse. A generation is in danger of passing away into the sunset without registering a presence. The government's apathy, even if they remain mute spectators and not become active agents of destruction, makes the consequences of this menace even more disheartening. There is no visible social and open public discussion of a problem which has already reached such magnitude that it can only be ignored at one's own peril. This also leads to another very vital question regarding the role of the Government and NGOs in this problem. India is in need of a strong youth to carry it forward and help it become a real world power, and negate the current poverty levels and social issues that prevent it from progressing as positively as it could. Yet the current drugs problem in Punjab, is ridding us of young, healthy youth who are needed to help the nation develop. Instead of taking up prominent posts after successful educations, increasingly more youth are being drawn into addiction. Society for Health, Eradication and Environment (SHEE) in partnership with Voices for Freedom-Asia (VFF-Asia), strongly believe that it is the duty of the government and civil to take an active role in addiction prevention and treatment, and enable to the youth to take their rightful place as agents of the future. The findings of our project present one of the first in-depth studies of drug abuse in the state of Punjab, and are a necessity if the state is to rid itself of the problem. The treatment is necessary to help the youths, their families and communities and put into practice models of treatment which could then be used all over Punjab. Beneficiaries We aim to conduct research in at least one village from each development block which means 140 villages as there are 140 development blocks in Punjab, benefiting at least 31500 households by documenting their experiences and learning of their needs. After the first phase of the study we will cover 30 villages and we expect to meet 450-500 drug affected people. After the Identification they will be treated accordingly during the first year. Next year the next set of 30 villages and the persons identified will be brought under the treatment. However the following year the persons left and still hooked on to the drugs from the villages investigated the previous year will be considered. The same will be repeated in the 3rd, 4th and 5th year. While the doctor will take care of medical treatment for the next 6 months period the research team would use the same period for the data analysis, report writing, compiling and completing the research report. We will also work with approximately 31500 families, 140 panchayats, and communities' members to discuss the role of drugs in their lives, and use the knowledge gained to help the treatment team.


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