Lok Sabha Question No. 343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Increase in Drug Abuse Among Youth
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 343

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  JULY, 2022/ASHADHA 28, 1944 (SAKA)

INCREASE IN DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH

343.  SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  consumption  of  drugs  and  narcotic  substances  like  heroin, cannabis and other opioids has increased significantly in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  it  is  true  that  the  consumption  of  drugs  among  the  youth  is increasing  and  now  roughly  around  10  crore  (100  million)  Indians  consume drugs whereas 15 years ago it was around 2 crore (20 million) and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to combat drug abuse among the youth in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)  &  (b):    The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment has conducted 'Comprehensive National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India'  through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018. The report of the survey was released in February, 2019.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 343 FOR 19.07.2022

## As per the said report the details of major drug abuse are as under :-

| S.No   | Name of the Substance   | Age 10-17 years        | Age 18-75 years        |
|--------|-------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|        |                         | Estimated No. of users | Estimated No. of users |
| 1      | Cannabis                | 20,00,000              | 2,90,18,000            |
| 2      | Opioids                 | 40,00,000              | 1,86,44,000            |
| 3      | Cocaine                 | 2,00,000               | 9,40,000               |

(c)  &  (d)  The  Government  of  India  through  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  & Empowerment has been implementing National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) scheme under which financial assistance is provided to (i)  State  Governments/Union  Territory(UT)  Administrations  for  preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development, vocational  training  and  livelihood  support  of  ex-drug  addicts.  (ii)  NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs)/Voluntary Organizations (VOs) for running  and  maintenance  of  Integrated  Rehabilitation  Centres  for  Addicts (IRCAs), Community based peer Led Intervention (CPLI) for early detection of Drug  Use  among  Adolescents  and  Outreach  and  Drop  In  Centres  (ODIC), District  De-Addiction  Centres  (DDACs)  and  Addiction  treatment  facilities (ATFs) in Government Hospitals.

In  addition,  the  Government  of  India  is  taking  sustained  and  coordinated action  for  tackling  the  problem  of  substance  abuse  among  the  youth.  This includes:

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 343 FOR 19.07.2022

- (i) Launching  of  Nasha  Mukt  Bharat  Abhiyaan  (NMBA)  in  272  most vulnerable districts with a massive community outreach programme, involving more than 8000 youth volunteers. More than 3.3 crore youth have been reached out under the Abhiyaan.
- (ii) Maintaining  of  350  Integrated  Rehabilitation  Centres,  which    not only treat the drug addicts but also provides motivational counseling,  after care services and re-integration into the social mainstream.
- (iii) Maintaining of 53 Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) Centres with focus on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents. Under  this,  peer educators  engage  children  for awareness generation and life skill activities.
- (iv) Setting  up  and  maintaining  of  73  Outreach  and  Drop  In  Centres (ODIC) to provide safe and secure space for substance users with provision of screening, assessment and counseling and thereafter provide referral and linkage for treatment and  rehabilitation services of substance dependent.
- (v) Setting up of 38 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in Government hospitals.
- (vi) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is also running a National  Toll  Free  Helpline  14446  to  provide  tele-counseling  to Drug users and refer them to the nearest de-addiction centre.
- (vii) Narcotics  Control  Bureau  (NCB)  has  coordinated  with  Ministry  of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to spread awareness against drug  abuse  and  protect  the  youth,  especially  children  from  falling prey  to  the  drug   menace  by  formulating  a  Joint  Action  Plan  on

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 343 FOR 19.07.2022

Prevention of Drugs and Substances Use among Children and Illicit Trafficking.

- (viii) NCB has also launched Awareness campaigns through various social media  platforms  by  way  of  Audio  Video  messages  of  eminent personalities  from  the  field  of  Politics,  Bureaucracy,  Sports,  Films, Music  etc  and  also  through  Telecom  service  providers,  FM  radios, Television Channels, etc.
- (ix) Anti  drugs  messages  were  released  from  the  twitter  handles  of eminent personalities.

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