Lok Sabha Question No. 3962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-09
Subject: Synthetic Drugs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUEST ION NO. 3962 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH DECEMBER, 2016

## SYNTHETIC DRUGS

## 3962. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the use of synthetic drugs are on the rise in the country;
- (b) whether synthetic drugs have an adverse impact on the health of humans and if so, the thereof;
- (c) whether the  Government  is  taking  any  step  to  check  its  adverse  impact,  if  so,  the  d thereof; and
- (d) the details of existing rules related to manufacturing of synthetic drugs?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( AN UPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) & (b):      No such information is centrally maintained. However, it is believed has been a rise in the availability of synthetic drugs including synthetic cannaboids, and synthetic hallucinogens. These are not yet as common as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, like  drugs,  prescription  drugs  and inhalant  substances.  The  recent  National  Mental  Health Survey did not pick up notable instances of synthetic drug use. There a re a large number of harmful  effects  on  the  human  health    both  physical  and  psychological    from  the  us synthetic drugs, especially synthetic cannabinoids    including severe anxiety, paran hallucinations  and are also known to precipitate psychi atric disorders like schizophrenia to those who are vulnerable. However, very  little is  known  about the dangers  of other s drugs.

Contd……..

(c) & (d):     Under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Drug De - ddictio n Programme runs with a very specific target to mitigate the health problems  of addicts substance/ alcohol abuse through medical treatment and counselling at government hospi drug  de - addiction    centres.  The  National  Drug  Dependence  Treatment Centre(  NDDTC)  at Ghaziabad,  under  AIIMS,  New  Delhi  is  the  national  nodal  centre  for  this  programme.  T NDDTC  receives  regular  annual  recurring  grants - in - aid  from  the  Ministry.  Other  Central Government  hospitals  receiving  regular  annual  recurring  financi al  assistance  under  this programme  are  Drug  De - addiction  centres  at  PGIMER,  Chandigarh,  and  NIMHANS, Bangalore.

A "Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substanc (Drugs) Abuse" has been implemented by  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment   for providing composite / integrated services for the rehabilitation of alcohol and drug add

Further, the Department of Revenue , has the nodal co - ordination role as administrator of the  Narcotic  Drugs  and  Psycho tropic  Substances  (NDPS)  Act,  1985  and  the  Prevention  of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. The Narcotics Control Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs , is the apex coordinating agency for co - ordination of actions by various offices, State Governments and other authorities under the NDPS Ac Customs  Act,  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act  and  any  other  law  for  the  time  being  in  force connection with the enforcement provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.

Under  the  provision  of  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act,  1940  and  Rules,  1945  made thereunder,  State  Licensing  Authorities  appointed  by  State  Governments  are  empowered grant  license  for  manufacture  for  sale  or  distribution  of  drugs.  However,  for  new permis sion under Rule 122B is required from Central Drugs Standard Control Organizati (CDSCO) before obtaining manufacturing License from the States.

New drugs are approved and allowed to be manufactured and marketed in India base on their safety and ef ficacy assessment.

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