Lok Sabha Question No. 4050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Use of Drugs among Students
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4050

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  MARCH, 2025/ CHAITRA 4, 1947 (SAKA)

USE OF DRUGS AMONG STUDENTS

4050. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the use of drugs among students including medical students;
- (b) if so, the details of such cases reported in the country during the last ten years, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  criminal  tendency  among students is increasing due to the use of drugs, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to stop/control the use of drugs by the students; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  start  more  awareness programmes in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) & (b): As  a  part  of  the  National  Survey  on  Extent  and  pattern  for Substance Use in India, in  order  to  understand  the  pattern  and  profile  of substance  use  among  school  and  college  students  across  the  country, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) conducted a multi-site survey   in   2018-2019  as  a   Focused  Thematic  Study, 'Substance Use

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4050 FOR 25.03.2025

among Students'. In  this  focused  thematic  study,  ten  different  locations from across the country were selected as survey sites.

## Rates of Substance use in the sample of school students (Sample size- 5920)

| Class substance   | of Number (and percentage) of sample reported using in past 12 months   |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Cannabis          | 120 (2.0)                                                               |
| Sedatives         | 38 (0.6)                                                                |
| Opioids           | 163 (2.8)                                                               |

## Rates of Substance use in the sample of college students (N-2533)

| Substance       | Number (and percentage) of sample reported using in past 12 months   |
|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Charas, Ganja   | 159 (6.3)                                                            |
| Opioids: Opium  | 9 (0.4)                                                              |
| Opioids: heroin | 6 (0.2)                                                              |
| Ph. Opioids     | 40 (1.6)                                                             |
| Sedatives       | 37 (1.5)                                                             |
| Cocaine         | 12 (0.5)                                                             |
| Amphetamine     | 4 (0.2)                                                              |
| Hallucinogen    | 9 (0.4)                                                              |

- (c). No such specific information is available.

(d)  &  (e):  The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Department for drug demand reduction in the country. To tackle the issue of  substance  use,  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  is implementing National Action Plan for Drug Demand reduction (NAPDDR), a Centrally  sponsored  scheme  under  which  following  actions  have  been undertaken for rehabilitation and awareness of school children and minor youth:

- (i) Nasha  Mukt  Bharat  Abhiyaan  (NMBA)  was  launched  on  15 th August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in 272 identified vulnerable district and has now been extended to all  districts  across  the  country.  The  initiative  aims  to  raise awareness  about  substance  abuse,  with  a  special  focus  on higher educational institutions, university campuses and schools.  It  also  emphasizes  identifying  dependent  individuals, providing  counseling  and  treatment  facilities  in  hospitals  and rehabilitation centers and conducting capacity-building programs for service providers.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4050 FOR 25.03.2025

- (ii) So far, various on-ground activities under NMBA have sensitized over  14.79  crore  people,  including  4.96  crore  youth  and  2.97 crore  women.  The  campaign  has  engaged  over  4.16  lakh educational  institutions,  ensuring  that  its  message  reaches children  and  young  people  across  the  country.  Additionally, more-than 10,000 dedicated Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained to further strengthen the movement.
- (iii) Developed  Navchetna  Modules  (A  New  Consciousness  on  Life Skills and Drug Education for School Children)- teacher training modules.  The  Navchetna  module  aims  to  increase  awareness against  drugs  and  promote  education  on  life  skills  among students in schools.
- (iv) 46 Community based Peer Led intervention (CPLI) centres are supported by MoSJ&E. These CPLIs focus on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents to create awareness against drugs and teach life skills.
- (v) A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446 is being maintained for providing primary counselling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline.

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