Since coming to power the Bhagwant Singh Mann government has treated the drug menace in Punjab not merely as a law and order problem but as a deep social crisis requiring a multi-pronged and sustained response, and up to October 2025 several positive and visible steps have been taken to curb drug trafficking, dismantle supply chains and support recovery for affected youth. One of the earliest and most significant measures was the clear political signal of zero tolerance towards drug networks, reflected in consistent directions to the police and enforcement agencies to act without fear or favour, including against influential individuals and organized syndicates, which helped rebuild public confidence that the state leadership was serious about tackling the problem.

Under this approach the Punjab Police intensified intelligence-based operations leading to a sharp increase in seizures of heroin, synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical opioids along the international border and within urban centres, with special focus on breaking cross-border smuggling routes and local distribution hubs. The government strengthened coordination between state police, border security agencies and central forces to tighten surveillance along vulnerable stretches, improve use of technology such as drones and electronic monitoring, and enhance real-time information sharing, which together contributed to disrupting the inflow of narcotics into the state.

At the same time, the Mann government placed equal emphasis on demand reduction and rehabilitation, expanding de-addiction and treatment facilities across districts so that individuals struggling with substance dependence could access medical care, counselling and psychological support closer to their homes rather than being pushed into stigma or criminalisation. New de-addiction centres were supported with better staffing and medicines, and existing centres were monitored more closely to improve quality and accountability, signalling a shift towards treating addiction as a health issue rather than only a crime. The government also pushed preventive measures by involving educational institutions, community organisations and religious bodies in awareness campaigns that targeted school and college students with messages about the physical, mental and social consequences of drug abuse, while encouraging families to seek help early instead of hiding the problem due to shame or fear.

In villages and urban neighbourhoods, community participation was encouraged through local committees and outreach programmes aimed at identifying vulnerable youth, promoting sports and cultural activities, and reconnecting young people with constructive opportunities, reflecting an understanding that social engagement and employment are crucial in preventing relapse and first-time use. On the enforcement side, a notable step was the focus on financial investigations and property seizures linked to drug trafficking, with authorities moving to attach illegally acquired assets of drug smugglers and peddlers, thereby hitting criminal networks where it hurts most and sending a strong deterrent message that crime would not pay. The government also took action to clean up systems that had previously allowed drugs to circulate more easily, including stricter checks on pharmaceutical sales, monitoring of chemists, and action against the misuse of prescription drugs, which had become a major concern in certain regions.

Another positive dimension of the Mann government’s strategy was its effort to insulate anti-drug operations from political interference by publicly backing officers who took tough action and by instituting internal accountability mechanisms to reduce corruption and collusion within enforcement agencies, issues that had long undermined anti-drug efforts in the past. The administration also repeatedly highlighted the link between unemployment, despair and addiction, and therefore tied its anti-drug narrative to broader policies focused on job creation, education reforms and youth skill development, projecting drug control as part of a larger social recovery mission rather than an isolated campaign. Importantly, the government maintained sustained public communication on the issue, with the chief minister and senior officials regularly addressing citizens, sharing progress, and acknowledging challenges, which helped keep the drug issue at the centre of public discourse rather than allowing it to fade after initial crackdowns.

By October 2025, while the drug problem in Punjab had not disappeared, there was a perceptible shift in approach marked by stronger enforcement against traffickers, improved border vigilance, expanded de-addiction infrastructure, greater community involvement, and a clearer moral and political stance against the drug trade, together representing a series of positive and structured steps that moved the state closer to reclaiming its youth and restoring social health from the long shadow of narcotics.