India, Feb. 12 -- The Punjab government's anti-drug programme has allegedly breached the privacy of drug addicts by requesting the Punjab health department to share personal details of thousands of active drug users registered in outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics without their consent, it is learnt.

Officials reportedly sought this information to contact the families of addicts to help prevent substance abuse. Deputy commissioners, who chair the respective District Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Societies, have already been collecting personal data of addicts, including their addresses, officials familiar with the development said.

According to information gathered by HT, deputy commissioners in several districts...