To assess and to 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 the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS which was published in 2019.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a “Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP)” with the objective of providing affordable, accessible, and evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders through government hospitals. Under this programme, Ministry provides treatment (OPD/IPD) and counselling through 6 Drug Addiction Treatment Centres established in the Central Government Hospitals and 25 Drug Treatment Clinics (OPD & counselling) established at district hospitals and Medical colleges across the country.

Further, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements a centrally sponsored scheme, the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to tackle the issue of substance use. Under this programme, financial assistance is provided to the 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), Community-based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents, Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) and District De- Addiction Centres (DDACs). Funding is also provided for Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) established in Government Hospitals.

The following major activities have been undertaken under the NAPDDR scheme:

1. Running 349 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) that provide in-patient treatment to drug users along with counselling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream.
2. Also running 45 Community-based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) programmes to create awareness against drugs and teach life skills to children below 18 years.
3. Under this scheme, 76 Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs) are also functioning to provide secure space for screening, assessment, counselling and referral for treatment and rehabilitation services.
4. 154 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in Government hospitals.
5. 145 District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) that provide all three facilities provided by IRCA, ODIC & CPLI under one roof.
6. This scheme is providing support to 7 IRCAs, 6 DDACs, and 2 ATFs in the State of Bihar.
7. A Toll-free Helpline Number 14446 is also established for providing primary counselling and immediate referral services to persons seeking help.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment also launched a nationwide Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with focus on higher educational Institutions, university campuses, schools across the country. Awareness is also being spread through Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on X, Facebook & Instagram.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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SR

HFW/Steps taken to prevent substance addiction among youth/24 March 2026/4