The Himachal Pradesh Government has rolled out a robust two-pronged strategy aimed at combating drug abuse and reintegrating affected youth into mainstream society. With a dual focus on prevention and rehabilitation, the state is strengthening both infrastructure and legal frameworks to address the growing concern of substance abuse.
A government spokesperson announced today that ₹5.34 crore has been sanctioned for a state-of-the-art 100-bedded de-addiction centre at Kotla Barog in District Sirmaur, which will also feature dedicated recreational facilities to aid recovery. In addition, five new de-addiction centres will be established in Mandi, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Solan, and Sirmaur.
To bolster early intervention and counseling services, 108 new ‘Disha’ centres have been set up across health institutions in the state. These centres will be staffed by specially trained ASHA workers, doctors, and psychiatrists.
At present, Himachal has four operational de-addiction centres for men in Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, and Kangra, along with a women’s centre in Kullu managed by the Red Cross Society.
For long-term drug prevention planning, the government is partnering with NITI Aayog, PGI, and the Health Department to formulate a comprehensive State Action Plan. Under the National Drug Prevention Campaign, more than 5.76 lakh people across 5,660 villages and 4,332 educational institutions have been sensitized on the dangers of drug use — with special focus on adolescents, youth, and women.
In a significant legal move, the government has passed the Himachal Pradesh Organized Crime (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025, introducing stringent penalties including death sentence, life imprisonment, and fines up to ₹10 lakh for drug traffickers. Complementing this, the Himachal Pradesh Drugs and Controlled Substances (Prevention, De-addiction and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2025 establishes a State Fund for supporting de-addiction, education, and livelihood programs.
To curb illegal manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, a special monitoring committee led by the SDM and officials from Excise, Police, and Health Departments will regulate pharmaceutical companies holding narcotic drug licenses.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the spokesperson concluded, “The State Government remains dedicated to making Himachal Pradesh a drug-free state through prevention, rehabilitation, awareness, and strict action against offenders.”
