Drug Abuse
What is the magnitude of drug abuse in India?
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s report on the
“National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India”
(2019), the magnitude of substance use is:
• 16 crore people (14.6%) between the age of 10 and 75 years are current
users of alcohol, and out of them, 5.2% are alcohol dependents.
• About 3.1 crore individuals (2.8%) are cannabis users, and 72 lakh
(0.66%) people suffer from cannabis problems.
• Overall opioid users 2.06% and nearly 0.55% (60 lakh) require
treatment services/health
• 18 crore (1.08%) are current users of sedatives (non-medical use).
• 7% of children and adolescents are inhalant users as compared to adults
of 0.58%. Nearly 18 lakh children need help for inhalant use.
• It is estimated that about 8.5 lakh people are injecting drugs
The most worrying category of drugs in India are opioids, with the
prevalence of opioid use in India being three times the global average (0.7% Vs
2.1%). Across all the drug categories, drugs in the opioid group (particularly
heroin) are associated with the highest rates of disease, death and disability.
India’s location between the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan)
and the Golden Triangle (Thailand-Laos-Myanmar) provides easy access to
opioids.
The World Drug Report, 2022, ranked India fourth in terms of the quantity
of seized opium in 2020, with a total of 5.2 tons confiscated. Additionally,
India was ranked third for the amount of seized morphine in the same year,
totaling 0.7 tons.
What are the impacts of drug abuse?
Health Consequences: Drug abuse can lead to a range of physical health
problems, including liver disease (from alcohol), infectious diseases (due to
sharing needles in injection drug use), and overdose-related deaths. Also,
substance abuse is closely linked to mental health disorders such as
depression and anxiety. It can exacerbate existing mental health issues or lead
to the development of new ones.
Social and Family Impacts: Drug abuse can lead to family breakdowns,
increased conflicts, and emotional trauma within families. Children in
households affected by drug abuse may experience neglect, abuse, and
disrupted education, affecting their overall well-being. Individuals struggling
with drug addiction often face social stigma, which can hinder their recovery
and reintegration into society.
Economic Consequences: Families often face financial hardships due to
the costs of supporting a family member’s addiction and the associated
medical expenses. With most drug users being in the productive age group of
18–35 years, drug addiction can lead to absenteeism and reduced productivity
in the workplace.
Crime: An increase in violence and crime is the direct impact of drug abuse.
Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and
impair judgement, encouraging one to commit offences. The incidence of eve-
teasing, group clashes, assault, and impulsive murders increases with drug
abuse.
What are the challenges associated with drug abuse in
India?
Lack of Awareness and Education: There is limited awareness about the
risks of drug abuse and its consequences among the general population,
particularly in rural areas. Also, educational programs in schools and
communities to inform people, especially young individuals, about the
dangers of drug abuse are insufficient.
Stigma and Discrimination: Stigmatization of individuals with substance
use disorders can discourage them from seeking help and support.
Discrimination in healthcare facilities and society at large can hinder access to
treatment and rehabilitation services.
Limited Access to Treatment and Rehabilitation: There is a huge
shortage of drug addiction treatment facilities and qualified healthcare
professionals.
Inadequate Research and Data: There is limited research on the
prevalence and patterns of drug abuse in India, which hampers evidence-
based policymaking and program development. There are also challenges in
collecting accurate data due to the hidden and stigmatized nature of drug
abuse.
Easy availability of drugs: India’s geographic location close to major
opium producing regions leads to easy availability of these drugs. Also,
according to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), there is a growing trend of
using the ‘dark net’ and cryptocurrency for illicit drug trade.
New substances: The consumption of new psychoactive substances is
increasing in India, and these substances often fall outside the scope of
existing drug control regulations, posing challenges for law enforcement
agencies to effectively monitor and regulate them.
What are the government initiatives to tackle drug abuse
in India?
Laws: The broad legislative policy is contained in the three Central Acts, viz.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act, 1985, and The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): It is the nodal agency for drug law
enforcement in India. It was established in 1986 to coordinate drug law
enforcement efforts across the country.
National Narcotics Coordination Portal: The multiplicity of
stakeholders in Drug Law Enforcement has necessitated coordination between
various agencies on real time basis. The Ministry of Home Affairs has
constituted a four-tier coordination mechanism for increasing coordination
amongst the nationwide stakeholders from grass root level to apex level and
effectively combating the menace of drugs. The Apex NCORD, Executive
NCORD, State NCORD and District CORD are four pillars of mechanism.
Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs): The Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) provides financial assistance to
NGOs and voluntary organizations for the maintenance of Integrated
Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs). These centers offer
comprehensive rehabilitation services to individuals with substance abuse
disorders.
National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR): The
MoSJE launched the NAPDDR for 2018-2025. The Plan aims at reduction of
adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan/Drugs-Free India Campaign: It was
flagged off on 15th August 2020 (Independence Day) for 272 districts across
32 State/Union Territories that have been identified as the most vulnerable in
terms of usage of drugs in the country. It is operational with the involvement
of more than 500 voluntary organizations across the country, which are
assisted financially under the NAPDDR scheme.
International Treaties: India is signatory to various international treaties
and conventions to combat the menace of drug abuse like UN Convention on
Narcotic Drugs (1961), UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), UN
Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances (1988) and UN Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime (UNTOC) 2000.
What should be done to tackle drug abuse in India?
Scientific evidence-based treatment needs to be made available at
adequate scale for people with substance use disorders.
The government should take measures to strengthen the law
enforcement agencies involved in drug control, including Customs, the
Narcotics Control Bureau, and state police forces. This can include providing
them with better training, technology, and resources.
Socio-economic factors like poverty, unemployment, and lack of education
can contribute to drug abuse and trafficking. Therefore, the government can
address these issues through poverty reduction measures, employment
generation schemes, and increasing access to education.
Reducing demand for drugs can be done through community-based
prevention programs, education, and awareness campaigns.
Conclusion:
Addressing drug abuse requires a holistic and multi-pronged approach that
includes prevention, education, treatment, harm reduction, policy reforms,
and increased community involvement. Collaboration between government
agencies, healthcare providers, NGOs, and the community is essential to
mitigate the impact of drug abuse in India.
