Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria launched ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat: Annual Action Plan (2020-21)’ for 272 most affected districts on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. 

Taking cognizance of the fact that addressing the problem of drug abuse requires concerted action at different levels of the government, the ministry of social justice and empowerment has asked the state governments to plan and take specific initiatives, taking into account their local considerations and devise specific and suitable strategies for drug demand reduction in their identified areas. 

The state governments have also been involved in the monitoring process for programmes under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) in order to ensure its effective implementation.

The ministry has also approved the proposal of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, at AIIMS for providing financial assistance for establishment of addiction treatment facilities at 125 government hospitals in a phased manner for over a period of three years.

Substance use in India 

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 AIIMS, New Delhi during 2018.

As per the report, alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians followed by cannabis and opioids. 

About 16 crore people consume alcohol in the country. It is about 14.6 per cent of the population (between 10 and 75 year of age). More than 5.7 crore people are affected by harmful or dependent alcohol use. 

Nearly 3.1 crore people use cannabis products, about 25 lakh suffer from cannabis dependence. As many as 2.26 crore use opioids. 

Combating drug use in India

India is a signatory to the three UN Conventions:

* Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.

* Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971.

* Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. 

Article 38 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and Article 20 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 obligates countries for taking all practicable measures for the prevention of abuse of drugs/psychotropic substances and for the early identification, treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation and social reintegration of the persons involved and also for promoting the training of personnel in these areas.

The government has enacted the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 1985 to make stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The government has also brought out a National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) in 2012 to serve as a guide to various ministries/departments, state governments, international organisations, NGOs, etc and re-assert India’s commitment to combat the drug menace in a holistic manner.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Annual Action Plan

Nasha Mukt Bharat Annual Action Plan for 2020-21 would focus on 272 most affected districts and launch a three-pronged attack combining efforts of the Narcotics Bureau, outreach/awareness by Social Justice and treatment through the health department.

Components of Action Plan:

* Awareness generation programmes.

* Focus on higher educational institutions, university campuses and schools.

* Community outreach and identification of dependent population.

* Focus on treatment facilities in hospital settings.

* Capacity building programmes for service providers.

How will it be implemented?

Based on the finding of the ‘National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India’ and list of districts which are vulnerable from the supply point of view provided by the Narcotics Control Bureau, the ministry  would undertake intervention programmes in vulnerable districts across the country with an aim to: 

* Reach out to about four lakh children and youths for awareness about ill effect of drug use. 

* Increase community participation and public cooperation. 

* Supporting government hospitals for opening up de-addiction centers in addition to existing ministry supported de-addiction centers (IRCAs).

* Conducting training programme for about 10,000 participants.

It will also increase community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand for dependence-producing substances and promote collective initiatives and self-help endeavour among individuals and groups vulnerable to addiction or found at risk including persons. 

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

The ministry of social justice and empowerment 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 include awareness generation programmes in schools/colleges/universities, workshops/seminars with parents, community based interactions,  intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescents and youth, provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.

NISD implements the Action Plan

The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), New Delhi, an autonomous body under the administrative control of the ministry of social justice and empowerment, is the nodal training and research Institute for interventions in the area of social defence. 

A National Centre for Drug Abuse Prevention (NCDAP) has been set up in the NISD since 1998 to provide technical support to the government on policies relating to substance abuse prevention and facilitate a wider and improved coverage of services throughout the country for substance demand reduction.

The NISD carries out programmes for capacity building and training of functionaries of de-addiction centres through NCDAP. 

The NISD is the technical resource agency for implementing the activities of the NAPDDR across the country. NISD, through various stakeholders,  has conducted awareness programmes and campaigns in schools and colleges. 

Setting up of IRCAs

The ministry is also implementing a central sector scheme of assistance for prevention of alcoholism and substance (drugs) abuse under which financial assistance is given to the voluntary organisations and other eligible agencies for running and maintenance of Integration Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs). 

These IRCAs provide services for preventive education and awareness generation, identification of addicts, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction and whole person recovery, after care and reintegration into the social mainstream.

The NAPDDR focuses on availability of IRCAs in each district, conversion of existing IRCAs into treatment clinics, availability of drug addiction treatment facilities in government hospitals and closed settings such as prisons, juvenile homes, etc.

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