New Delhi: Actor Shahid Kapoor’s latest release ‘Udta Punjab’, which was based on drug abuse in Punjab, will be shown to AIIMS doctors to make them aware of the different aspects of drug abuse and addiction.
Authorities at National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) are planning to arrange screening in the hospital campus to make the resident doctors
“The downward spiral of drug epidemic in the society has been shown. Also, the movie depicts the health issues that arise due to drug use along with overdose and toxicity.
“The movie portrays how drug dependence can lead to criminal activities and the nexus between the criminal elements and pharmaceutical industry. It shows how powerfully addictive these drugs are that even if forcibly injected one might get addicted to them as was in the case of Alia Bhatt in the movie. So almost all possible aspects have been captured in the movie,” said a senior doctor.
Udta Punjab: Shahid Kapoor delighted as people are inspired to ‘quit drugs’
The objective, the doctor said, is to make the resident doctors aware of all the aspects of substance use which can help them in treating a patient.
“Knowing the issues related to substance abuse well will help them understand and treat a patient in a better way. We receive thousands of cases of drug abuse every year with majority of them being opioid dependent. “Dealing with such patients requires a fair degree of clinical skills and patience and perseverance,” the doctor added.
Notably, AIIMS in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is planning to conduct a survey to compile national and state-level estimates of people involved in drug abuse.
It will take two years to complete the survey. It will identify the presence of services and interventions for drug dependent individuals and identify the gaps in service delivery.
The last such survey was conducted in 2001 and the data were published in 2004.
