DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH

Prelims level : Social Issues Mains level : GS-II Issues relate to development and management of Human Resources.
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Why in News?

  • A National Survey to collect State wise Data on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use was conducted in the country during the year 2018.
  • The report presents major findings of the survey in terms of proportion of the Indian population in the group of 10-75 years using various substances and those affected by substance use disorders.

Highlights:

  • The National Crime Record Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that a total number of 874, 750 and 778 people have died during 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively due to drug overdose in the country.
  • The national survey was conducted to generate estimates for eight categories of psychoactive substances: Alcohol, Cannabis, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), Sedatives, Inhalants and Hallucinogens.
  • As per the report, alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians.
  • After alcohol, cannabis and opioids are the next commonly used substances in India.
  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR):

  • The Plan aims at the reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.
  • The activities under the NAPDDR include, among others, 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 Centres for Addicts to provide composite/integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including adolescents.
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