Punjab continues to face a severe and persistent crisis of deaths linked to illegal drug consumption and overdose. According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2023, the state recorded 89 deaths due to drug overdose, compared to 144 deaths in 2022. Although the number has decreased slightly, Punjab still remains among the highest in India for overdose-related fatalities, highlighting the depth of the problem.
In a separate affidavit submitted by the Punjab Police to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, authorities confirmed that 266 people died of drug overdose between April 2020 and March 2023. The year-wise breakdown shows a rapid rise in deaths: 36 in 2020–21, 71 in 2021–22, and 159 in 2022–23. The affidavit also provided district-level details, where Bathinda reported the highest number with 38 deaths, followed by Tarn Taran with 30, Ferozepur with 19, Amritsar Rural with 17, and Ludhiana with 14. These numbers indicate that the drug death crisis is widespread across multiple regions rather than being isolated to specific urban pockets.
More recent monitoring by the Punjab Health Department’s Substance Abuse Monitoring System (SAMS) revealed even more alarming figures. Between January 2024 and April 2025, the system registered 782 confirmed overdose deaths in the state. Health experts believe the actual toll could be two to three times higher, as many overdose deaths go unreported due to social stigma, family pressure, or incorrect medical classification. According to doctors at PGIMER, Chandigarh, underreporting is especially common in rural and border districts, where families often avoid disclosing drug-related causes of death.
Beyond narcotic overdose, Punjab has also seen frequent fatalities related to illegal and spurious liquor, which is another form of substance-related death. NCRB data for 2023 shows 33 deaths in Punjab caused by toxic liquor. Historically, the 2020 hooch tragedy remains one of the worst incidents, where 121 people lost their lives after consuming adulterated alcohol. These incidents demonstrate that substance-related deaths in Punjab extend beyond narcotics and include other dangerous, illicit consumables.
Law-enforcement data further reflects the scale of the crisis. Punjab registered 11,589 cases under the NDPS Act in 2023, placing it third-highest in India. Out of these, 7,785 cases were related to drug trafficking—the highest among all states—while 3,804 cases involved personal possession. The large number of trafficking cases suggests a strong and persistent supply chain feeding the drug problem, while the growing number of overdose deaths indicates gaps in health services, rehabilitation, and harm-reduction efforts.
Overall, the data paints a troubling picture. Punjab’s drug-related death toll remains high, and the rising trends over recent years show that the problem is deepening rather than resolving. Despite government claims and repeated promises, the state continues to lose hundreds of young lives every year to addiction and overdose. Without stronger health intervention, better rehabilitation infrastructure, and effective measures to dismantle trafficking networks, experts warn that these deaths may continue to rise in the coming years.