Lok Sabha Question No. 3400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Mental Health Problem
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## LOK SABHA

## MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM

3400. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government recognize substance or alcohol abuse as & mental health problem;
- (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to tackle the issue including the funding for the same, especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to help alcohol or another substance addicts to find safe space to discuss their struggles with de-addiction;
- (d) whether any specific funds have been allocated in this regard; and
- (e) if the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor? SO,

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

- (a): The Mental Health Care Act (MHCA); 2017 of India defines mental illness as "substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or memory that  grossly impairs judgment; behaviour, capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of mental conditions associated with the abuse of alcohol and drugs but does not include mental retardation which is a   condition of arrested or  incomplete development of mind of a person,   specially characterised by subnormality of intelligence". Thus, substance use disorders are included within the definition of mental illness in India. life,
- (b): The details of steps taken by the Government t0 tackle the issue including the funding for the same, especially in Andhra Pradesh is placed at Annexure
- (c): As per National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction(NAPDDR) scheme implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the Ministry financially supports Outreach and In Centres (ODICs) through grant-in-aid: These ODICs provide safe and secure space of treatment and rehabilitation  for substance users, with provision of screening, assessment and counselling ad thereafter   provide referral and  linkage to treatment   and   rehabilitation services for   substance dependence. Currently, there are 71 ODICs in the country which are funded by this Ministry: Drop being
- (d) & (e): As mentioned at part (b), the funds allocated to NAPDDR scheme also includes release of funds to NGOs/VOs to run ODIC projects The funds are released to eligible NGOs/VOs, which have been  selected by the Ministry as per eligibility criteria, to run ODICs as per guidelines mentioned in NAPDDR scheme.

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UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2023

## 21.03.2023

To address the problem of Abuse among children and women, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and implemented National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse among the youth and women: This includes: Drug

- a. Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 372 most vulnerable districts under which a massive   community outreach is done   through more than   8000 youth volunteers. More than 9.54+ crore people have been  reached out SO far including 3.12+ crore youth, 2.06+ crore women and 3.14+ lakh educational institutes. In Andhra Pradesh, Chittoor, Anantpur, Nellore have been identified under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan being
2. b 340 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Ministry: These IRCAs not oly provide for treating the victims; but also give services of preventive   education, awareness   generation; motivational   counselling;  detoxification/deaddiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream. Ministry also provided support to special de-addiction centre for women and children: Currently, 10 IRCAs are running in state of Andhra Pradesh. drug
- C. 48 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centres are supported by the Ministry: Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities. Currently, 4 CPLIs are running in state of Andhra Pradesh:
4. d\_ 71 Outreach and In Centres (ODICs) are supported by the Ministry. These ODICs provide safe and secure space of treatment and rehabilitation for substance users, with provision of screening; assessment and counselling and thereafter  provide   referral and ODICs are running in state of Andhra Pradesh. Drop
5. e Ministry also supports setting up of 46 Addiction Treatment  Facilities (ATFs) in some Government hospitals, which is implemented through AIIMS, New Delhi. Currently, 1ATF is running in state of Andhra Pradesh: being
- f. A Toll-free Helpline   for  de-addiction; providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to the persons seeking help through this helpline.
7. Ministry through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) ad other collaborating agencies like SCERTs Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan etc provides for sensitization sessions for all   stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.
8. 2 The Ministry has allocated Rs. 200 crores(Two Hundred Crores) for National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction for FY 2022-23. The funds are not allocated state-wise. Till nOw, 2.39 crores have been released to various NGOsIVOs of Andhra Pradesh to run IRCAODICICPLI projects under NAPDDR scheme

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