As per the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by this Ministry through NDDTC, AIIMS, New Delhi during 2018, the details of drug abuse among youth is as under:

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and implemented National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse among the youth.

i. Ministry launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 most vulnerable districts under which a massive community outreach is being done through more than 8000 youth volunteers. Till now through the various activities undertaken on-ground 2.2+ Crore people reached out so far, out of which more than 86 lakh youth have actively participated in the activities of the Abhiyaan and spreading on-ground the message against substance use. Around 4,000+ Yuva Mandals, NYKS & NSS Volunteers, Youth Clubs have also been associated with the Abhiyaan. Across the country till now, 13+ lakh students have been reached with events, competitions and sessions organized in 6000+ schools.

ii. Social media has effectively been utilized to spread the message of the NMBA online by creating handles on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and sharing daily updates on them. An Android based mobile Application has been developed to capture the data of activities happening on ground on a real-time basis by the districts and master volunteers. This App has been placed on the Google Play Store.

iii. 355 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Ministry. These IRCAs not only provide for treating the drug victims, but also give services of preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counselling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream. Ministry also provided support to special de-addiction centre for women and children.

iv. 53 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centres are supported by the Ministry. These CPLIs focus on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents. Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities.

v. 78 Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODICs) are supported by the Ministry. These ODICs provide safe and secure space of treatment and rehabilitation for substance users, with provision of screening, assessment and counselling and thereafter provide referral and linkage to treatment and rehabilitation services for substance dependence.

vi. Ministry also supports setting up of 36 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in some Government hospitals, which is being implemented through AIIMS, New Delhi.

vii. The Ministry is also providing financial support for setting up of District De-Addiction Centre (DDAC) in various districts. These DDACs would provide comprehensive facilities hitherto being provided by IRCA, ODIC & CPLI together. The main focus of the DDAC is early prevention, education, demand reduction, identification, treatment and rehabilitation services of vulnerable individuals or individuals affected by substance use disorders.

viii. All the Ministry supported GIA institutions providing counselling, treatment & rehabilitation services have been geo-tagged for ease of access.
ix. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446 is being maintained by the Ministry for providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to the persons seeking help through this helpline.

x. Ministry through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like SCERTs, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan etc. provides for regular awareness generation and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri A. Narayana Swamy in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MG/RNM/DP/RK