Lok Sabha Question No. 4984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Increasing use of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4984 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2025

## INCREASING USE OF NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS

4984. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the usage of narcotic and psychotropic drugs is becoming common in schools and colleges particularly in Kerala; and
- (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to reduce the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

- (a): To assess and know the magnitude of the problem of substance use in the country, a Comprehensive National Level Survey on the 'Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India' was conducted by Department of Social Justice & Empowerment through National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, AIIMS, New Delhi which was published in 2019. As per the National Survey, the details of drugs use in Kerala is as under:

| Kerala                       | Children and Adolescent (Age 10-17)   | Children and Adolescent (Age 10-17)   |
|------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|                              | PREVALENCE OF USE (%)                 | ESTIMATED NO. OF USERS                |
| CANNABIS                     | 0.36                                  | 15,000                                |
| OPIOIDS                      | 0.74                                  | 31,000                                |
| SEDATIVES                    | 0.27                                  | 11,000                                |
| INHALANTS                    | 0.95                                  | 39,000                                |
| COCAINE                      | 0.03                                  | 1,000                                 |
| AMPHETAMINES STIMULANTS TYPE | 0.15                                  | 6,000                                 |
| HALLUCINOGENS                | 0.26                                  | 11,000                                |

| Kerala                       | Adult (Age 18-75)     | Adult (Age 18-75)      |
|------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
|                              | PREVALENCE OF USE (%) | ESTIMATED NO. OF USERS |
| CANNABIS                     | 1.43                  | 3,52,000               |
| OPIOIDS                      | 0.86                  | 2,12,000               |
| SEDATIVES                    | 0.54                  | 1,32,000               |
| INHALANTS                    | 0.46                  | 1,12,000               |
| COCAINE                      | 0.05                  | 13,000                 |
| AMPHETAMINES TYPE STIMULANTS | 0.13                  | 31,000                 |
| HALLUCINOGENS                | 0.37                  | 91,000                 |

(b): The details of steps taken by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for drug demand reduction are at Annexure.

## Annexure referred in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.4984 to be answered on 01.04.2025

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) which is a Central Sponsored Scheme under which financial assistance is provided to:

i. State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs etc.

ii. NGOs/VOs for running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), Community based peer Led intervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents, Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) and District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs); and

- iii. Government Hospitals for Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs).
2. The following activities have been undertaken under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR):
- Presently, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is providing financial assistance to 350 IRCAs, 46 CPLIs, 74 ODICs, 124 DDACs and 142 ATFs across the country including 24 de-addiction facilities in Kerala.
- A Toll-free de-addiction helpline, '14446' is being maintained by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for providing primary counseling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline. 4.25+ lakh calls have been received, so far on the helpline number from across the country including 11,747 calls from Kerala.
- Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 most vulnerable districts which has now been extended to all districts across the country since 15th August 2023, under which a massive community outreach is being done through more than 10,000 youth volunteers. So far, NMBA has reached to more than 14.79 crore people including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women. More than 4.16 lakh educational institutions have also participated in this Abhiyaan. In Kerala till now, through the various activities undertaken on- ground, 29+ Lakh individuals have been sensitized on substance use including 5.14+ Lakh youth and 6.97+ Lakh women. Participation of 1450+ educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the state.

- On August 12, 2024, a nationwide mass pledge-taking event was organized under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan across India that witnessed participation of 3+ crore people from 2+ lakh institutions. In Kerala, the event witnessed active participation of 11.27+ lakh people from various institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, public and private offices.
- MoUs have been signed with spiritual organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, ISKCON, Shri Ram Chandra Mission and All World Gayatri Pariwar to support NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.
- A digital push has been given to many activities under the Abhiyaan to maximise the reach of NMBA and ensure more participation. NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level.
- NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, its reach out in States & Districts and the activities conducted under the Abhiyaan so far.

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