Lok Sabha Question No. 2491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Drug Abuse
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2491 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2024

## DRUG ABUSE

## 2491 DR. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI:

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

- (a) the current status of drug abuse in Punjab, with data on the number of cases reported and the demographics affected year on year basis;
- (b) the measures taken by the Government to combat drug abuse in Punjab, including the implementation of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR);
- (c) whether there is specific rehabilitation programmes or initiatives for drug addiction in Punjab, such as the establishment of de-addiction centres with fund allocation, staff hired and outcome; and
- (d) the details of funds allocated to address drug abuse and support rehabilitation efforts in Punjab under Central and State programmes along with their outcome?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

- (a): As per the Comprehensive National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) through National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, (NDDTC), AIIMS in 2018, the substance-wise prevalence and number of drug users in Punjab are as under: -

| Punjab                       | Adult (Age 18-75)     | Adult (Age 18-75)      |
|------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
| ALCOHOL                      | PREVALENCE OF USE (%) | ESTIMATED NO. OF USERS |
|                              | 34                    | 73,31,000              |
| CANNABIS                     | 14.23                 | 30,68,000              |
| OPIOIDS                      | 9.91                  | 21,36,000              |
| SEDATIVES                    | 4.61                  | 9,93,000               |
| INHALANTS                    | 0.87                  | 1,87,000               |
| COCAINE                      | 0.69                  |                        |
| AMPHETAMINES TYPE STIMULANTS | 0.63                  | 1,36,000               |
| HALLUCINOGENS                | 0.00                  | -                      |

As per Crime in India 2022, Statistics Volume-I Report of National Crime Records Bureau, 12,442 cases have been reported in 2022 in Punjab under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

- (b) The measures taken by the Government to combat drug abuse in Punjab, including the implementation of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction is at Annexure.
- (c) DoSJE is supporting 7 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), 2 Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) and 1 Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) in the State of Punjab. Rs.1.33 crore has been released as grant-in-aid to these centres during the FY 2023-24 and 11,486 persons availed the facilities in these centres and follow guidelines of NAPDDR scheme regulations regularly.
- (d) The details of funds allocated to address drug abuse and support rehabilitation efforts in Punjab under NAPDDR scheme is as follows:

| S.No.   | Financial Year   |   Funds released (Rupees in Crore) | No. of Beneficiaries   |
|---------|------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------|
| 1.      | 2018-19          |                              11.71 | 1,865                  |
| 2.      | 2019-20          |                               4.9  | 2,048                  |
| 3.      | 2020-21          |                               1.55 | 10,534                 |
| 4.      | 2021-22          |                               1.08 | 10,159                 |
| 5.      | 2022-23          |                               1.01 | 11,239                 |
| 6.      | 2023-24          |                               1.33 | 11,486                 |
|         | Total            |                              21.08 | 47,331                 |

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## Annexure as referred to reply to part b) of the Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 2491 to be answered on 06.08.2024

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), under which financial assistance is provided to (a) '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, Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs etc. and (b) 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 (c) Addiction Treatment Facilities in Government Hospitals.

- i. Currently, the Ministry is supporting 7 IRCAs (in districts of Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Moga, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) 2 ODICs (in the districts of Gurdaspur and Ludhiana) and 1 CPLI (in the district of Ludhiana) in the state of Punjab.
- ii. The Ministry launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 most vulnerable districts on 15.08.2020. The Abhiyaan has now been extended to all districts across the country including in Punjab, under which a massive community outreach is being done through youth volunteers. In the State of Punjab, more than 5.5 lakh people including 75+ thousand youth and 27+ thousand women have been reached out under NMBA.
- iii. The Ministry has developed Navchetna Modules (A New Consciousness on Life Skills and Drug Education for School Children). 100 Master Teachers from 18 districts of Punjab have been imparted training in the first phase of implementation of Navchetna modules.

iv. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, number 14446 is being maintained by the Ministry for providing primary counselling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline. Till date 3,118 call have been received from State of Punjab.

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