The drug epidemic in Punjab has reached unprecedented levels during 2024-2025, with recent government data painting a grim picture of the state’s ongoing battle against substance abuse. According to the Punjab State Narcotics Control Bureau’s most recent quarterly assessment released in March 2025, approximately 2.8% of the state’s population (nearly 950,000 individuals) now struggle with some form of substance dependency, a troubling increase from previous years.
The consumption pattern has shifted dramatically in recent months, with synthetic opioids and pharmaceutical cocktails gaining popularity alongside traditional drugs. Health authorities report that heroin consumption remains prevalent, with an estimated 230,000 users across the state as of early 2025. More concerning is the 37% rise in consumption of synthetic drugs like tramadol, fentanyl derivatives, and various forms of methamphetamine that have infiltrated both urban centers and rural communities throughout Punjab.
Law enforcement records for the period spanning January 2024 through April 2025 reveal deeply entrenched corruption within the system designed to combat drug trafficking. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has registered 127 cases against police personnel during this period, implicating officers of various ranks in drug-related corruption. Most notably, the arrest of three deputy superintendents and 17 inspectors in February 2025 exposed an elaborate protection network that had allegedly facilitated the movement of narcotics worth over ₹200 crore throughout the state.
The human cost of this crisis continues to escalate at an alarming rate. According to the Punjab Health Department’s Substance Abuse Monitoring System, the state recorded 782 confirmed drug overdose deaths between January 2024 and April 2025. However, health experts from PGIMER Chandigarh estimate the actual figure could be 2-3 times higher, considering cases where families conceal addiction-related deaths due to social stigma or where deaths are misclassified under other causes.
Particularly disturbing is the youth vulnerability index published by the state’s Department of Social Welfare in January 2025, which indicates that first-time drug use among teenagers has increased by 23% compared to 2023 statistics. The average age of initiation has dropped to 15.7 years, with school dropout rates in heavily affected districts showing a corresponding increase of 19% during the same period.
Border seizures have reached record levels, with the BSF and Punjab Police jointly confiscating over 1,470 kg of heroin along the Pakistan border during 2024, nearly double the amount from the previous year. Internal intelligence reports suggest that approximately 30% of the total narcotics shipments are intercepted, indicating a staggering volume of drugs still reaching consumers across the state.
The judicial system has struggled to keep pace with the crisis, with drug-related case pendency in Punjab courts reaching an all-time high of 23,700 cases as of April 2025. A special investigation by the state judiciary found evidence of case tampering in approximately 13% of narcotics cases, often involving collusion between corrupt officials and powerful trafficking networks.
Government rehabilitation efforts have expanded significantly, with 623 treatment facilities now operational across the state as of March 2025. However, healthcare professionals report that these centers are operating at 182% of their intended capacity, with waiting periods for admission stretching to 3-4 months in many districts. The relapse rate remains stubbornly high at 64%, according to follow-up studies conducted by the Punjab State AIDS Control Society.
Economic factors continue to exacerbate the crisis, with the state’s unemployment rate at 9.2% as of the first quarter of 2025, significantly higher than the national average. A socioeconomic impact assessment released by Punjabi University in February 2025 estimated that the drug crisis costs the state approximately ₹8,700 crore annually in healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and law enforcement resources.
Despite the launch of a comprehensive state-wide intervention program in January 2024 with a budget allocation of ₹1,200 crore, implementation challenges and systemic corruption have undermined its effectiveness. The Comptroller and Auditor General’s preliminary report from March 2025 identified fund utilization inefficiencies in 42% of the allocated resources, further hampering efforts to address this multifaceted crisis that continues to devastate families and communities throughout Punjab.