Now, drug screening starts in state jails

Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Sunday launched a drug screening campaign in the state’s prisons for the de-addiction and rehabilitation of their inmates. All 950 inmates of Ropar’s district jail were among those checked and the result will be available in a day.
The objective is to make the state’s prisons free of drugs. Jails minister Harjot Singh Bains said: “This is the first statewide single-day screening campaign as part of prison reforms. It will identify the inmates with drug abuse disorders and bring them to the OOAT clinics for deaddiction. We will book them under Section 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to start their rehabilitation.”
The jails department will seek prosecution of the addicted inamages under section 64A of the NDPS Act to give them an opportunity to get themselves treated. Experts will be involved for improving the de-addiction treatment with peer support and counselling.
Police will be asked to block the supply of drugs to the prisoners and check any corrupt practices.