(a) the details of survey undertaken by the Government during the last three years to assess the extent of drug abuse in the country;
(b) whether any statistics is available with the Government regarding the number of opioid drug users in the country particularly in the State of Punjab; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not the action taken/being taken to estimate the number of opioid drug users in the country, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) No Nation-wide survey has been undertaken during the last three years to assess the extent of drug abuse in the country.
(b)&(c) The Ministry had requested National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to conduct a nationwide survey on extent, pattern and trend of alcohol and drug abuse. Accordingly, the NSSO had conducted a pilot survey in the cities of Amritsar, Imphal and Mumbai in March-April 2010. The report of the pilot survey was received from NSSO on 5.1.2011. On examination of the report of the Pilot Survey, certain issues relating to under estimation, non-coverage of certain age groups etc. were raised and a more comprehensive and extended pilot survey was suggested. The National Statistical Commission (NSC) in its meeting held on 6.9.2013 has observed that no purpose would be served by conducting the proposed Advanced Pilot Survey and suggested that the methodology and the sampling design may be looked afresh. Therefore, a Working Group was constituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, with NSSO as nodal organization to devise the modalities of advanced pilot survey in the States of Punjab and Manipur. The report of the Working Group has been received. However, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has informed that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can conduct the survey through the help of NGOs on the pattern of earlier pilot survey done in the year 2010. The NSSO would provide all the necessary support if required.
In addition to the proposal to conduct a nation-wide survey, the Ministry had separately commissioned a survey for estimation of the extent, trend and pattern of drug abuse in the State of Punjab in ten districts namely, Bathinda, Ferozpur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran and in the State of Manipur. The Reports of the Surveys have been received.