Sajan Sharma: 

Punjab drug dependant population. Punjab has a huge opioid dependent population of around 2.7 lakh with Opium and Poppy husk being the most common type of Opioids used, with almost one in two users using natural Opioids. Estimated 78,000 drug abusers are Injection Opioid Users.  Approximately one in six persons in Punjab are dependent on some substance and dependence is more common in rural than urban areas. Injection Opioid Use is the second most common form of Opioids in dependent users, with approximately one in four dependent users are using injection Opioids. 
In Injections Opioids, Heroin is the commonest type. Almost one third of injection Opioid users are abusing Buprenorphine. Only 2.1 per cent of Opioid dependent population reported criminal convictions.This was reflected in a survey of Punjab and Chandigarh which was conducted by PGIMER, Chandigarh between 2015 and 2016 to find out the prevalence and estimation of substance use in state. The study was conducted under the supervision of Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi and funded by Central department of health and research.Main Findings in Punjab: 

There were more than 22 lakh alcohol dependent persons and nearly 16 lakh tobacco dependent persons in Punjab currently.

 The single most common substance of use and dependence in Punjab was alcohol, followed by tobacco.Around 1 in 33 reported of having accident under the influence of substance use. Around 1 in 10 reported of facing medical problems due to substance use. 1 in 50 reported of having psychological disorder due to substance use. Formal treatment support was sought by only one in six people with substance dependence.

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