Punjab talks drugs again. Its children are still paying the price

A recent article in The Indian Express highlights the ongoing drug crisis in Punjab, where children are caught in the crossfire. The story recounts a visit to a home in Badshahpur village in Kapurthala, where three children, including a seven-year-old, expressed fear while coming down the stairs. The article underscores the devastating impact of drug abuse on Punjab's future, with children like these being the collateral damage.

It also details the tragic case of Gulzar Singh, a laborer from Sangrur who consumed Celphos tablets after being threatened by local authorities for questioning a minister about drug abuse in the area. The article traces the origins of the drug crisis to Punjab's location near the Golden Crescent, the major opium-producing region, and notes that what started as a transit route has evolved into an entrenched narcotics economy.

The article also mentions the government's failed attempts to eradicate drug abuse, with successive governments making ambitious promises but failing to deliver results.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.