The Punjab government has launched the Community Bridge Model to further strengthen its campaign against drug addiction. The aim of this new initiative is not only to help people recover from addiction, but also to keep them away from addiction long-term after treatment and integrate them into mainstream society. The government believes that de-addiction should not be limited to hospitals or rehabilitation centers; it can only be made sustainable through the active participation of families, society, and the local community. This initiative seeks to give a new direction to the state’s comprehensive de-addiction campaign.
Support will continue even after treatment
Under the Community Bridge Model, people who leave de-addiction centers will receive ongoing guidance and support. Families, social organizations, the health department, and local volunteers will work together to regularly monitor these individuals to ensure they do not relapse. They will also be provided with psychological support, social acceptance, and the necessary assistance to return to normal life.
Society’s participation will be paramount
The key feature of this model is that it places the role of the community at the center. The government wants villages, neighborhoods, social organizations, and families to work together to create a strong social environment against drug abuse. This will help those who have quit addiction feel less isolated and empower them to make a new beginning with confidence. People will also be continuously raised awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse.
Special Emphasis on Keeping Youth Away from Drugs
The government maintains that strictness alone is not enough to protect youth from drug abuse. It is also important to provide them with new direction through sports, education, skill development, and positive activities. With this vision, the Community Bridge Model has been integrated with the state’s de-addiction campaign to rehabilitate those who have quit addiction and prevent new youth from turning to drugs.
Another Step Towards a Drug-Free Punjab
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government believes that a lasting solution to the drug problem is possible only when treatment, rehabilitation, and social support work together. The Community Bridge Model is based on this philosophy. The government’s objective is to ensure that those who return from de-addiction centers, recovered, can live a respectable life, are able to integrate into employment and society, and do not return to addiction. Through this initiative, an effort is being made to make the ongoing campaign against drugs in Punjab more effective and based on public participation.