**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2725 on the topic of "Smuggling of Narcotic Substances", answered on December 16th, 2025. The answer addresses concerns about the increasing use and smuggling of narcotics, as well as the government's efforts to tackle these issues. There are no explicit action items or deadlines outlined in the document.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Extent of Substance Use:**
* A national survey by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) in 2019 assessed substance use in India.
* The survey provides data on the prevalence and estimated number of users (children and adults) for various substances, including Cannabis, Opioids, Sedatives, Cocaine, ATS, and Hallucinogens.
* **Drug Seizures:**
* According to data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2023, details about the quantity of drugs seized between 2019 to 2023 is provided in the document.
* **Government Measures:**
* A National Narcotics Helpline No. 1933 (MANAS) has been created as a 24x7 toll-free helpline.
* A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for counseling and immediate assistance, having received over 4.30 lakh calls.
* The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) has been launched across all districts of the country.
* Financial assistance is provided to a network of de-addiction and rehabilitation centers, including IRCAs, CPLI Centers, ODICs, ATFs, and DDACs.
* The National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) provides awareness generation and sensitization sessions for stakeholders.
* Navchetna Modules and Teacher Training Modules have been developed by MoSJE to sensitize students, teachers, and parents.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Citizens**
**Impact:** Citizens can access the National Narcotics Helpline and the de-addiction helpline for assistance, report problems, and receive support through various channels.
**Action Required:** Use the provided helpline numbers to seek assistance or report drug-related issues.
**Stakeholder: Drug Users and their Families**
**Impact:** Drug users and their families can access de-addiction services through the toll-free helpline and benefit from the network of rehabilitation centers.
**Action Required:** Contact the toll-free helpline (14446) or visit one of the supported rehabilitation centers for assistance.
**Stakeholder: Students, Teachers, and Parents**
**Impact:** Students, teachers, and parents are affected due to the awareness generation and sensitization sessions provided by government agencies and through the use of Navchetna Modules.
**Action Required:** Participate in awareness sessions and utilize the Navchetna Modules for sensitization on drug dependence and related issues.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E): The ministry responsible for conducting the 'Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India' survey and developing training modules related to drug dependence.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA): A nationwide campaign aimed at creating a drug-free India.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): The agency that publishes data on drug seizures across the country.
National Narcotics Helpline No. 1933 “Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra” (MANAS): A 24x7 toll-free national helpline for drug-related issues and assistance.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2725
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 25, 1947
(SAKA)
SMUGGLING OF NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES
†2725. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:
SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:
SHRI RAMPRIT MANDAL:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the use of narcotic substances is increasing in the country;
(b) whether the incidents of smuggling of narcotic substances and
seizures of major consignments are on the rise during the last five years;
(c) whether the problems like social alienation and mental health on the
rise due to use of narcotic substances; and
(d) whether the Government is serious about such problems and if so, the
steps taken to tackle this?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) To assess and know the magnitude of the problem of substance use
in the country, a comprehensive national level Survey on the ‘Magnitude
of Substance Abuse in India’ was conducted by Ministry of Social Justice
& Empowerment (MoSJ&E) through National Drug Dependence Treatment
Center (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi which was published in 2019. As per-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2725 FOR 16.12.2025
the Survey, the Prevalence (in %) and estimated number of adults and
children who are users of various psychoactive substances is as under:
Substance Children & Adolescents Adults
(10-17 years) (18-75 years)
Prevalence Estimated Prevalence Estimated no.
( in %) no. of users ( in %) of users
Cannabis 0.90 20,00,000 3.30 2,90,00,000
Opioids 1.80 40,00,000 2.10 1,90,00,000
Sedatives 0.58 20,00,000 1.21 1,10,00,000
Cocaine 0.06 2,00,000 0.11 10,00,000
ATS 0.18 4,00,000 0.18 20,00,000
Hallucinogens 0.07 2,00,000 0.13 20,00,000
Source: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
(b) As per latest data published by National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB) pertaining to the year 2023, the total quantity of drug seized
during 2019 to 2023 is as under: --3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2725 FOR 16.12.2025
Year Quantity of Drug seized
Kgs Nos Ltrs
2019 1111646.073 20849422 11735699.605
2020 1316767.239 59255051 1104231.997
2021 1137145.702 48412687 895626.337
2022 2080575.536 17490971 4640749.099
2023 1035540.089 20905286 1969579.414
Source: Crime in India (NCRB).
(c) & (d) The Government is taking various measures to tackle the issue
of use of narcotic substances, some of which are as under: -
(i) A National Narcotics Helpline No. 1933 “Madak-Padarth Nished
Asoochna Kendra” (MANAS) has been created a 24x7 toll-free National
Narcotics Call Centre helpline. Accordingly, MANAS has been envisioned
as an integrated system providing a single platform for citizens to log,
register, track and resolve drug related issues/problems through various
modes of communication like call, SMS, Chat-bot, e-mail & web-link.-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2725 FOR 16.12.2025
(ii) A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for
providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons
seeking help. Till date more-than 4.30 lakh calls have been received on
the Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction.
(iii) Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the
country. It has reached out to more than 24.9 crore people including 8.7
crore youth and 6 crore women.
(iv) Government is providing financial assistance to 349 Integrated
Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), 45 Community based Peer
Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, 76 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs),
154 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), 139 District De-addiction
Centres (DDACs) across the country.
(v) Government through its autonomous body National Institute of
Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel
of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan (KVS), etc. provides for regular awareness generation and
sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers,
parents.-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2725 FOR 16.12.2025
(vi) Navchetna Modules, Teachers Training Modules have been
developed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) for
sensitizing students (6th – 11th standard), teachers and parents on drug
dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
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