During curfew, non-availability of poppy husk is also reason behind rush at OOAT centres, due to interstate border seal, says Dr.Rachna
Curfew impact: Drug addicts rush increases at OOAT Centres
Ferozepur, April 8, 2020: Despite instructions of the government for giving the medicine for a fortnight against 7 days time, in view of the announcement of curfew-lockdown due to coronavirus threat, the crowd at the Drug De-Addiction Centre and OOAT – Out Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment centres is increasing daily as the drug is only available at these centres and its sale by chemist shops is banned.
Non-availability of poppy husk is the reason behind rush at OOAT centres, due to interstate border seal and closing down of chemist shops, amid coronavirus threat, said Dr.Rachna Mittal.
In fact, the sudden COVID-19 curfew imposed in Punjab on March 23, two days before the national lockdown, has created a problem for the registered drug addicts in the state, who are undergoing treatment at over 250 government and private de-addiction centres.
Scarce availability of illicit drugs due to the coronavirus lockdown has forced drug addicts to get enrolled for treatment at government and private-run centres in Punjab and according to estimates by AIIMS Punjab is home to about 7.2 lakh addict. As per the data shared by the government on 7 March, over 1.15 lakh addicts are being treated at OOAT centres, 2.15 lakh in de-addiction centres and nearly 30,000 in rehabilitation centres.
Dr Rachna Mittal said the reason behind the increase in a number of patients is due to the fact that one private hospital has been shut down due to irregularities found in its working and doctor at one hospital has left. However, the two private centres are working.
The main reason at the back end is due to lockdown and supply of ‘poppy husk’ - substitute of drugs - through interstate movement through Gangananagar and closure of medicine shops, which too was a source of getting habit-forming drugs for the addicts, she added.
Dr.Rachna said the visit of patients to the drug de-addiction centre is a good sign that they are interested to get the regular treatment for which the doctors and staff are performing their duties sincerely and honestly. She said, due to threat of coronavirus, the people must stay at home but when the addict feel uneasiness, they rush to the centre and we are providing the treatment very carefully and taking precautionary measures.
About 600 new patients have been registered and in the interest, the centres at seven places – Ferozepur, Makju, Zira, Mallanwala, Ferozshah, Mamdot, Guruharsahai apart from Central Jail – are running and drug addict are reaching to get the medicine on daily basis.
As per the information, almost at all the centres, the number of patients is increasing, due to the closure of the private centres. Besides, who used to take drugs on a daily basis but now due to non-availability of the same, due to curfew because of coronavirus threat, are visiting the drug de-addiction centres resulting in an increase of the patients, which is not a good sign, in the event of pandemic coronavirus threat.
In normal days, the number of such patients was between 5 to 10 and now it has flanked by 50 to 60. Similarly, the medicine at OOAT centre was given on daily basis to about 400 persons and now it is also being given for 7 or 15 days and in routine, the number of patients is around 300. The staff at the centre too feels as unsecured.
No doubt, moving of drug addict during the curfew is very difficult to identify about coronavirus affected patient and may become a problem for others but the social distancing is maintained to put a check over the spread of the virus, with the deployment of police at the centre.