Lok Sabha Question No. 2434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Increase in Drug Abuse
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2434 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2024

## INCREASE IN DRUG ABUSE

## 2434. SHRI AGA SYED RUHULLAH MEHDI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has noted an alarming increase in drug abuse, particularly heroin addiction, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the recent years and if so, the steps taken to curb this issue;
- (b) whether any steps have been taken or are planned to increase the number of rehabilitation centers in Jammu and Kashmir, considering the current facilities are reported to be overwhelmed with patients;
- (c) the details on the effectiveness of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' in Jammu and Kashmir, including statistics on the number of people reached, rehabilitated, or treated for drug addiction in the last year; and
- (d) whether any collaborative measures with law enforcement agencies at international levels are being implemented as a result of reported drug trafficking from Pakistan and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): As per the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by the Ministry through NDDTC, AlIMS during 2018, the details of drugs abuse in Jammu and Kashmir are as under: -

| Jammu and Kashmir   | Age (18-75)   | Age (18-75)                                         |
|---------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| ALCOHOL             |               | PREVALENCE OF USE (%) | ESTIMATED NO. OF USERS |
|                     | 4             | 3,54,000                                            |
| CANNABIS            | 1.54          | 1,36,000                                            |
| OPIOIDS             | 5.05          | 4,47,000                                            |
| SEDATIVES           | 1.71          | 1,51,000                                            |
| INHALANTS           | 1.01          | 89,000                                              |

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) which is an umbrella 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, Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs etc. and (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) Addiction Treatment Facilities in Government Hospital Settings.

The steps undertaken for drug demand reduction in UT of Jammu and Kashmir under NAPDDR scheme is as under:

i. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) is being implemented across all districts of UT of Jammu & Kashmir. More than 98 lakh people including 8+ lakh youth and 9+ lakh women have been reached out in J&K.

ii. Department is supporting 1 IRCA, 3 ODICs, 2 CPLIs, 5 DDACs and 20 ATFs in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. More than 31 thousand people have been treated for drug deaddiction during financial year 2023-24.

ili. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446 is being maintained by the Department for providing primary counseling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline. More than 11 thousand calls received so far from UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

(b): Under NAPDDR scheme guidelines, there is a provision for setting up of DDAC (District De-addiction Centres) in GAP districts, which do not have any facility of Department supported de-addiction centres. Further, ATF (Addiction Treatment Faculties) are being set up in Government Hospitals through NDDTC, AIIMS, New Delhi.

(c): The Department launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 most vulnerable districts, which has now been extended to all districts across the country including all districts of UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 98 lakh people including 8+ lakh youth and 9+ lakh women have been reached out.

Department is supporting 1 IRCA, 3 ODICs, 2 CPLIs, 5 DDACs and 20 ATFs in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. More than 31 thousand people have been treated for drug de-addiction during financial year 2023-24.

- (d): As per the information provided by Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), the collaborative measures by the drug law enforcement agencies at the international level are as under:
- i. A Memorandum of Understanding between NCB, India and ANF, Pakistan on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters was signed on 13.09.2011.
- ii. NCB India also discusses the issue of increased drug trafficking from Pakistan at the following international platforms:
- a. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Anti- Drug Cooperation
- b. SAARC Drug Offence Monitoring Desk.

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