Peer Support Becomes Powerful Tool in Punjab’s Fight Against Drug Relapse

Chandigarh: To strengthen the post-treatment rehabilitation component of the Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings are being conducted in 13 districts of Punjab under the Yudh Nashean Virudh initiative spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

In close collaboration with the Leadership in Mental Health Programme (LMHP) fellows, Narcotics Anonymous through its Hospital and Institution (H&I) meetings is organizing regular awareness and recovery sessions at government-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. The initiative is currently running regularly in Muktsar, Ludhiana, Rupnagar, Mansa and nine other districts.

What do Narcotics Anonymous meetings provide?

Under the programme, Narcotics Anonymous meetings provide recovering victims a non-judgemental space to share their experiences, struggles and achievements, giving strength to the belief that a recovering addict with their lived experience is the best person to help another. 

Narcotics Anonymous is a global fellowship of recovering addicts that provides support through a 12-step programme and peer-led meetings to help victims go drug free. Founded in 1953, the organisation now functions across many nations and works on the precept that recovery takes place best through mutual support and sharing of experiences.

A person in recovery from Sri Muktsar Sahib who regularly participates in NA meetings at the  government-run de-addiction centre said the sessions have played a key role in helping him remain sober. Not willing to be named, he said, “You can be drug-free for a week or even a month. But to ensure a drug-free life permanently, NA helps because the story of the peer group resonates with your story. If they can say no to drugs, why can’t you? After I became sober, I even brought along a friend I met at the de-addiction centre, who too has found this support to be of great help.”

Jagpal Singh (name changed), a patient at the Ludhiana drug de-addiction centre, said, “Hearing fellow addicts speak had an impact on me. It created a positive chain reaction in me. When I narrated my story, suggestions came my way and I felt motivated. I recommend that, alongside treatment, NA meetings could really help victims of drug abuse in their recovery.”

According to health experts, such peer-led support addresses one of the biggest challenges in addiction recovery — isolation. “Many patients fall into relapse because they feel isolated after leaving the de-addiction centre. NA gives them a support network and assures them they are not alone in their fight against drugs,” said a health official associated with the programme.

Participation in NA meetings has risen steadily in recent months, with regular sessions now being organised in government-run facilities across the 13 districts as part of the campaign's emphasis on long-term rehabilitation. An H&I coordinator associated with Narcotics Anonymous in Mansa said the organisation works closely with district administrations whenever support is sought for conducting meetings.

What do experts say?

An H&I coordinator and peer secretary associated with Narcotics Anonymous in Muktsar said the organisation works closely with district administrations whenever support is sought for conducting meetings.

“When I first joined an NA meeting myself, I realized that fighting this disease alone is difficult and this group was my support mechanism for fighting this battle. This place instilled in me the belief that one can truly leave addiction behind. The only qualification for membership is a desire to stop using drugs. Members remain anonymous, which allows them to speak openly and honestly about their struggles and recovery journey,” he said.

Parminder Singh, Psychiatry Social Worker at the Muktsar Drug De-addiction Centre, said, “Narcotics Anonymous is the best forum for a drug addict because the peer group members exactly know and understand the experience of an addict and they are best placed to guide them towards a drug-free life because they have undergone all those problems themselves. In fact, even during counselling sessions, the patient who hesitates to open up warms up to the NA members easily.”

Amanpreet Kaur, counsellor at the Ludhiana De-addiction Centre, said, “Peer groups share the positive changes that have taken place in their lives after quitting drugs, and that inspires others to follow the same path. Attending meetings initially is essential. If one is regular in such meetings, it means one is closer to de-addiction. Missing the meetings can often be an early warning sign of a relapse.”

She added, “NA group therapy gives patients a lot of confidence. Once they begin sharing experiences in a non-judgmental environment, they feel better understood and are guided towards sustained treatment that could make them go drug-free completely.”

Officials said several former substance users who have maintained sobriety are now volunteering as mentors and helping district administrations mobilise participants for meetings. Experts, however, emphasised that expanding NA networks, particularly in rural areas, will be crucial to sustaining the gains made under the anti-drug campaign.

As Punjab intensifies its fight against drug abuse, the growing network of Narcotics Anonymous groups is reinforcing the state's efforts to ensure that recovery extends beyond treatment and translates into lasting social reintegration and a drug-free life.