Punjab has supplied 43.44 crore buprenorphine tablets over the past four-and-a-half years through its Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics, reflecting the scale of opioid dependence management in the state. A sharp rise in supply to prisons is evident, with 40,830 inmates registered at OOAT clinics and 1.73 crore monthly revisits, indicating a significant burden of substance use disorders in correctional settings. Across the state, 3.17 lakh patients are currently registered at OOAT clinics, with monthly revisits reaching 13.55 crore till June this year.
In parallel, 70,766 patients have been admitted to de-addiction centres and 21,759 to rehabilitation centres, reflecting expanding treatment uptake. Procurement data shows a steady increase in buprenorphine use: 7 crore tablets in 2022 9.44 crore in 2023 10 crore in 2024 11 crore in 2025 6 crore tablets in 2026 so far…
