Parliament Question: Increasing substance abuse and addiction in youth

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.3613 TOBE ANSWERED ON24TH MARCH 2026 INCREASING SUBSTANCEABUSE AND ADDICTIONIN YOUTH 3613.#DR. BHIM SINGH: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate: (a) whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the rising substance abuse and the number of addicted youths, adolescents and children in the country, particularly in Bihar,if so, the detailsthereof; and (b) whether the Government is implementing any special scheme at the national level and in Bihar to prevent substance abuse, expand the number of de-addiction centres, conduct public awareness, campaigns and strengthen mental health services for treatmentandrehabilitation,if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a): To assessand toknow themagnitude oftheproblem of substance usein thecountry, a Comprehensive National Level Survey on the Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India was conducted by the Departmentof SocialJustice and Empowermentthrough National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMSwhich was published in 2019. As per the survey, the details of drug use in Bihar among the Children & Adolescents (10-17years) and Adults (18-75 years) isgiven atAnnexure-I. (b) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a “Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP)” with the objective to provide affordable, accessible, and evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders through Government Hospitals. Under this programme, MoH&FW provides treatment (OPD/IPD) and counselling through 6 (Six) Drug Addiction Treatment Centres established in the Central Government Hospitals and 25 Drug Treatment Clinics(OPD& counselling) established at district hospitals andMedical collegesacross the country. Further, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements a centrally sponsored scheme namely National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to tackle the issue of substance use. Under this programme financial assistance is provided to State Government/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education, Awareness Generation and Capacity Building programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs. NGOs/VOs are also funded for running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), Communitybased Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents, Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) and District De- Addiction Centres (DDACs). Funding also provided for Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) established in GovernmentHospitals. The followingmajoractivitieshave beenundertakenunderNAPDDRscheme: i. Running349IntegratedRehabilitation CentresforAddicts(IRCAs)thatprovide in-patient treatment to drug users along with counselling, detoxification/de- addiction, aftercare and re-integration into the social mainstream. ii. Alsorunning45CommunitybasedPeerLedIntervention(CPLI)programmesto createawareness againstdrugs and teach life skills to thechildren below 18years. iii. Under this scheme 76 Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODICs) are also functioning to provide secure space for screening, assessment, counselling and referral fortreatment and rehabilitation services. iv. 154AddictionTreatmentFacilities(ATFs) in Government hospitals. v. 145 District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) which provide all three facilities provided by IRCA, ODIC & CPLI under one roof. vi. Thisschemeisprovidingsupportto7IRCAs,6DDACs,and2ATFsintheState of Bihar. vii. AToll-free Helpline Number 14446 is also established for providing primary counselling and immediatereferral services to thepersons seeking help. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment also launched a nationwide Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) to reach outtothe massesandspreadawarenessabout substanceusewithfocusonhigher educationalInstitutions, universitycampuses, schools across the country. Through this campaign about 38.8+ lakh people (including 21 lakh Youths and 10 lakh Women) of Bihar have been sensitized on substance use. Awareness is also being spread through Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on X, Facebook & Instagram.Annexure-I Substance Children&Adolescents(10-17 years) Prevalence Estimated no.of users (in%) Alcohol 0.10 282000 Cannabis 0.42 99000 Opioids 0.17 40000 Sedatives 0.03 8000 Inhalants 0.12 29000 Cocaine <0.01 <1000 AmphetaminesTypeStimulants (ATS) 0.01 3000 Hallucinogens 0.01 3000 Substance Adults(18-75years) Prevalence Estimated no.of users (in%) Alcohol 1.00 660000 Cannabis 1.68 1106000 Opioids 0.20 131000 Sedatives 0.07 45000 Inhalants 0.06 39000.00 Cocaine <0.01 <1000 AmphetaminesTypeStimulants (ATS) 0.01 7000.00 Hallucinogens 0.02 12000.00 *****