The Patiala Divisional Commissioner Deepinder Singh, on Wednesday, visited district administrative complex Barnala to chair over a meeting to review work done by district administration under DAPO to tackle the drug menace. He was also accompanied by IRB Patiala’s IGP Mr. AS Chahal. Drug Abuse and Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme of Punjab Government was launched to eradicate drugs from Punjab with common people's cooperation under the vision of Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.During the meeting, the divisional commissioner lauded the efforts of district administration and Barnala police and said that the sensitization campaign run against drug abuse has shown positive results and drug addicts were being treated from government health institutions.Deepinder Singh said that the people should voluntarily come forward to help themselves to get rid of the drug menace from the society.He said that drug addiction was like a disease and it can be cured easily with the help of treatment being offered by medical science.
He also directed the district administration to prepare a detailed report of requirements to smoothly conduct the process under DAPO.Mr. Deepinder Singh said that besides family members and people known to drug addicts, the administrative and police officials should express sympathy with them (addicts) and help them to get treated from the addiction from health centres being run by the Punjab government. He added besides awareness activities, the health and other departments should conduct joint raids along with police parties to check the sale of drugs and medicines which could be used as drugs.On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta, SSP Harjit Singh, Additional DC (general) Roohi Dugg, SDM Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Karamjit Singh, Civil Surgeon Dr. Jugal Kishore, SP Sukhdev Singh, ACS Dr. Jyoti Kaushal, Dr. Parvesh, DSP Rajesh Chhibbar among various others were also present.