Lok Sabha Question No. 418 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Drug Abuse among Youths
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. BHOLA SINGH

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 418 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

## 418.DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS

## DR. BHOLA SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that drug addiction is on the rise amongst the you the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to revise the scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism Substance (Drugs) abuse;
- (c ) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the success achieved so far in the prevention and control of alcoholism and sub abuse in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FO R SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA )

- (a) No authentic data is available in this regard.
- (b) & (c)The Ministry has been implementing the Scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism an Substance (Drug) Abuse since 1985 - 86. Under this scheme, financial assistance up to 90% of the approved expenditure is given to the voluntary o rga izations and other eligible agencies for setting up/running Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs).  In the North - Eastern States, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir, the quantum of assistance is 95% of t total admissible expenditure. Ea rlier the cost norms of the Scheme were revised three times i.e. in 1994, 1999 and 2008. The cost norms of the Scheme have again been revised w 01.01.2015 and the enhancement under different components is between 80 and 100 percen The cost norms gen erally cover honorarium to the staff, room rent, cost of medicine, food for running of Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts.
- (d)  Approximately  one  lakh  victims  of  drug  abuse  are  benefitted  every  year  under Scheme. Besides the Ministry con ducts following awareness generation programmes against Drug abuse:
- i)  Sensitization  and      preventive  education      programmes  in  collaboration  with  Na Institute of Social Defence (NISD) in schools and colleges on regular basis.

ii) Awareness and outr each programmes involving organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS) etc. Due to high rate of prevalence addiction in Punjab, the Ministry has assigned, in October 2014, an awareness gener programme in the State through NYKS. The Ministry organized two Regional Workshops during year 2015 - 16 in collaboration with NSS at Shillong and Indore to sensitize stude The  Coordinators  of  NSS  from  all  the  North  Eastern  States,  Odisha  and  West  Benga attended the Wor kshop at Shillong and NSS Coordinators from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh  and  Rajasthan  attended  the  Workshop  at  Indore.  The  Programme  was  also attended by a large number of students.

iii)  The  Ministry  also  uses  print,  electronic  and  social  media  for  creat ing  awareness. Information  regarding  ill - effects  of  alcoholism  and  drug  abuse  is  also  disseminated  i regional  languages  through  the  All  India  Radio  programme  'SanwartiJayen  Jeevan  Ki Rahen' and also through advertisements in newspapers.

iv) The Ministry c elebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffic on  26th  June  every  year  by  holding  functions  and  organizing  exhibitions  to  sensiti people about the ill effects of drug abuse. National Awards are also conferred to ind s and  institutions  in  order  to  recognize  the  efforts  and  encourage  excellence  in  the prevention of substance abuse.

v)  Ministry has set up a National Toll Free drug de - addiction helpline Number 1800 - 11- 0031 w.e.f. 07.01.2015 to help the victims o f Drug abuse, their family and society at large.

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