MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (b): As per National Survey conducted by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through NDDTC, AIIMS on Magnitude of Substance Use in India (2019), the prevalence of current Use of Opioid group of substances (which includes: i-Opium and its variants; ii-Heroin and iii-Pharmaceutical opioids), is 2.06% in the general population of India (10-75 years old). The prevalence of use and addiction (i.e. harmful use / dependence) of different types of opioid products is follows:
Prevalence of Use Prevalence of Problem use (Addiction/Harmful use/ Dependence) Estimated number of people affected by Addiction/Harmful use/ Dependence
Opiods, Overall 2.06% 0.70% 77 Lakh
Heroin 1.14% 0.57% 63 Lakh
Pharmaceutical opioids 0.96% 0.23% 25 Lakh
Opium 0.52% 0.1% 11 Lakh
As can be seen here, heroin is the most common opioid used in India followed by pharmaceutical opioids. Among opioid drugs, highest proportion of addiction is found for heroin followed by pharmaceutical opioids. Opium has the lowest prevalence of use and addiction.
(c) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025. The Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy. The activities under the NAPDDR, inter-alia, include awareness generation programmes in schools/colleges/Universities, workshops/seminars/ with parents, community based peer led interactions intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescent and youth in the community, provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.
The Ministry also implements a “Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse” under which financial assistance is provided to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations based on the recommendations of State Governments/UT Administrations for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts to provide composite/integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including adolescents.
(d) So far as the steps taken to curb intake of heroine & other narcotics in the country is concerned, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 prohibit, the manufacture, production, trade, use etc. of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances, except for medical or scientific purposes. The Act provides for stringent penalties/rigorous provisions for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. NDPS Act follows graded punishment, wherein quantum of punishment is decided on the basis of the quality of the drugs involved in the trafficking. The enforcement agencies of Central and State Governments have been empowered to enforce the provisions of the Act, and adopt various measures, inter-alia, including (i) intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes, (ii) strengthening of the intelligence system, and (iii) bilateral/multilateral cooperation with other countries for sharing of information on illicit trafficking.
(e) & (f) National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) through various stakeholders has conducted awareness programs and campaign in schools and colleges. Till date, 1033 awareness programs have been conducted across nationwide. Stakeholder wise details are as under:-
Sl. No. Stakeholder Awareness Programme Conducted
1. RRTC 288
2. SCERT 249
3. Universities/Colleges 70
4. School Societies 150
5. Medical Colleges/Hospitals 21
6. Red Cross/others 255
Total 1033
***
Download PDF Files
