Drug Addiction Among Youth

Question by: Pankaj Chowdhary

1. whether the Government is aware of the survey conducted by AIIMS regarding increasing tendency of drug addiction among the youth in the country;
2. if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
3. the details and number of drug addicts in the country, State-wise;
4. whether the Government proposes to launch any effective programme to check drug addiction among the youth in the country; and
5. (e) if so, the details thereof?

Answer by: Shri Rattan Lal Kataria (Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment)

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has conducted the first National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018.

The report of the survey was released in February, 2019. The report of the Survey presents the major findings in terms of proportion of Indian population using various substances and those affected by substance use disorders.

Based on the report of the National survey, Ministry has formulated the scheme of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. Under the said scheme, financial assistance is provided to

1. ''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
2. ''NGOs/VOs for running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (lRCAs), Community based peer Led lntervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents and Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) and Addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) in Government Hospitals''.

• The Ministry has launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 identified vulnerable districts with an aim to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses and schools and reaching out into the community and concerned States/ UTs have been directed to launch their NMBA.
• The Ministry has developed Navchetna Modules to be followed in the schools for generating awareness among the children, teachers and parents about ill effect of substance abuse under the scheme of NAPDDR.
• Under Community Based Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI), focus has been placed on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents in the community. Under the project, children aged between 10 to 18 years, are enrolled as peer educators who would in turn engage children in the community in awareness generation and life skills activities.
• The Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODICs) provide safe and secure drop-in space for substance users in the community. These centres have the provision of screening, assessment and counseling and thereafter provide referral and linkage to treatment and rehabilitation services for substance dependents.
• The Ministry is taking all measures and actions needed to strengthen the mechanism for demand reduction and control of use of substances. Under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, several awareness generation and sensitization programs are being conducted in the identified 272 districts of the country.