Lok Sabha Question No. 3350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Prevention of Substance Abuse
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3350 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2023

## PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

## 3350. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any cognizance of the rising incidence of substance abuse among youth of the country and if the action taken by the Government in this regard; SO,
- (6) whether it intends to mandate   schools both public and private to organise sensitisation and awareness programmes regarding the same and if $o, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of de-addiction centres functioning in the State of Tamil Nadu; with the financial support provided to these centres during the last year; and along
- (d) the specific steps that the Government has taken to dissuade tobacco abuse and alcohol consumption among street children and slum dwellers? drug use,

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (6): (i) There has been a change in the pattern of substance abuse as reflected in the National survey o Extent; Pattern and Trends of Substance Use done in 2004,and in the Comprehensive National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted in 2018. Comparison of these Surveys is not possible since the survey in 2004 was done only on males; whereas the later survey was comprehensive.
- (ii) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Demand Reduction  (NAPDDR) which is an umbrella scheme under  which  financial assistance is   provided to    (i) 'State Governmentsl Union   Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development; vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts, Programmes for Demand Reduction by and Centres  for Addicts (IRCAs)-340, Community based peer Led Intervention (CPLI)-48 for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents, Outreach and In Centres (ODIC)-71 and District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs): Drug Drug Drop

iii. Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 372 most vulnerable districts under which a massive community outreach is being done through more than 8000 youth volunteers So NMBA crore youth, 2.08 crore women and more than 3.14 lakh educational institutions have also participated in this Abhiyaan. far,

- iv. Ministry also supports setting up of Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in some Government hospitals, which is implemented through AIIMS, New Delhi. being
2. Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446 is being maintained by the Ministry for providing primary counseling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline
3. (c):  During the year 2021-22, funds amounting to Rs. 4.95 Crore have been released to 25 projects in the state of Tamil Nadu by the Ministry:
4. (d): This Ministry has launched Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centres in 201920 which specifically focus o vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents  Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities.

*****