Updated Status of Illegal Drugs in Punjab (2024–2025)
Punjab continues to struggle with one of India’s most severe drug crises, despite an intensified crackdown by the government. Data from 2024–2025 indicates both progress in enforcement and a continued large-scale presence of addiction across the state. The scale of the problem is reflected in recent estimates: around 15.4% of Punjab’s population uses some form of intoxicant, and approximately 9–10 lakh people are suffering from serious drug dependency. International assessments provide even higher figures, with a parliamentary panel suggesting that nearly 66 lakh people in Punjab may be affected by some level of substance use, including around 6.97 lakh children (ages 10–17).
Heroin remains the dominant illegal drug. In 2024, Punjab accounted for 44.5% of all heroin seizures in India, despite making up only about 2.3% of the national population. The police and central agencies seized 586 kg of heroin, 247 kg of opium, 14 tonnes of poppy husk, 2.5 kg of ICE, 1.6 kg of cocaine, and over 25.7 lakh intoxicant tablets in the most recent reporting period. Pharmaceutical misuse is another major concern — in 2024 alone, Punjab seized 2.94 crore (29.4 million) habit-forming tablets, showing how widely synthetic opioids and prescription drugs are being abused.
The enforcement campaign has been intense. In a span of 205 days, police arrested more than 30,500 drug smugglers, and within a separate 3-month period alone, 8,344 FIRs were registered with 14,734 arrests under the NDPS Act. Courts have delivered a conviction rate of nearly 90%, with around 1,085 convictions out of 1,205 decided cases. On the financial front, the authorities have frozen drug-linked assets worth ₹74.27 crore and recovered ₹10.76 crore in drug money. A total of 104 illegally constructed properties belonging to traffickers have been demolished.
While this crackdown is significant, the human cost of addiction remains high. Official data reported 266 drug-related deaths from 2020 to 2023, though experts believe the real number is higher due to underreporting. Some estimates suggest Punjab may be losing 1,000 youths every year to drug addiction. Reports indicate that the average age of first-time drug use is also dropping, which is especially worrying for rural areas and border districts.
The state has tried to shift toward a more humane approach for addicts. Since the launch of “Yudh Nashian Virudh” in 2025, police have persuaded 7,673 substance users to undergo de-addiction treatment voluntarily. Under Section 64A of the NDPS Act, users caught with non-commercial quantities can now receive immunity from prosecution if they choose rehabilitation. However, misuse of de-addiction drugs has also surfaced, with investigations uncovering illegal sales of buprenorphine/naloxone tablets by some private treatment centres.
One of the most important policy steps is Punjab’s first-ever drug census, with a budget allocation of ₹150 crore. This census is expected to identify how many individuals in each district are affected, which drugs they use, and what support systems they require. With this data, the government aims to shift from broad enforcement to targeted prevention, community engagement, and long-term public health solutions.
Despite meaningful progress, Punjab’s drug crisis remains deep and complex. The combination of high addiction numbers, heavy synthetic drug misuse, cross-border smuggling, and youth involvement shows that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. A sustained strategy combining policing, rehabilitation, education, employment opportunities, and strong regulation of de-addiction systems will be essential for real change.