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addiction

jab, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, ALCOHOL USAGE 10 tOp prObLEm
Manipur, and Nagaland. Opioid group IN INDIA StAtES
of drugs is predominantly injected by
PWID (heroin — 46 per cent and phar-
maceutical opioids — 46 per cent). A ♦ Total users: 16 crore or Number of people (in lakhs)
substantial proportion of PWID reports 14.6 per cent of the total needing help for alcohol-
risky injecting practices. population related problems
It may be recalled that last year, a State Number of
bench headed by Chief Justice of India ♦ Problem users: 5.7 crore people in
or 5.2 per cent of the
Dipak Misra had on July 16 directed total population lakhs
the AIIMS to finalise the report by Sep-
tember 7, saying “no further extension ♦ Dependent users: 2.9 Uttar Pradesh: 160
shall be granted” and that the matter crore or 2.7 per cent of Andhra Pradesh: 47
was “of national importance”. However, the total population
the AIIMS had sought more time from Tamil Nadu: 37
the Supreme Court to prepare a survey Madhya Pradesh: 31
report on the extent and effects of drug
abuse in India along with recommen- use of common, legal substances (like Maharashtra: 30
dations to combat the threat. The Court Alcohol and Cannabis). At the national
had granted AIIMS more time after it level, a total of 200,111 households were West Bengal: 27
cited how the 30-crore survey, started visited in 186 districts and a total of Punjab: 27
in June 2016, had been taken over in 473,569 individuals were interviewed.
September last year by the Union Min- A Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) Chhatisgarh: 24
istry of Social Justice. survey along with multiplier approach Odisha : 21
Advocate Sravan Kumar had moved was conducted in 123 districts among
the Supreme Court on a petition filed by 70,293 people suffering from depend- Karnataka: 20
Kethireddy Jagadishwar Reddy, seeking ence on illicit drugs.
directions to the Centre to prepare an
action plan and stricter laws provid- The way out gests that in view of the wide treat-
ing for confiscation of drug peddlers’ The AIIMS survey suggests that scien- ment gap (mismatch between demand
properties and discouraging television tific evidence-based treatment needs and availability of treatment services)
and movies from portraying or drug to be made available for people with in the country, India needs massive
use. He had placed in court data that Substance use disorders. A conducive investments in enhancing the avenues
showed that every day there were 10 legal and policy environment is needed for treatment. Optimum allocation of
drug or alcohol-related suicides in to help control drug problems as the resources for treatment of substance
the country. report makes it evident that a sizable use disorders is imperative, based upon
The National Drug Dependence population in India is affected by sub- the evidence generated through this
Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All stance use disorders and is in need of survey. Planning for a national level
India Institute of Medical Sciences urgent help. The survey admits, “Reach treatment programme must be guided
(AIIMS) has submitted the latest sur- of the national programmes for the by the absolute magnitude of the prob-
vey report, New Delhi submitted ti- treatment of substance use disorders is lem, for prioritization among the states.
tled “Magnitude of Substance Use in grossly inadequate”. Addiction treatment programmes
India”. The Ministry of Social Justice The survey also admits that the “evi- focused heavily upon inpatient treat-
and Empowerment sponsored the sur- dence for the effectiveness of aware- ment/hospitalization in ‘de-addiction
vey. A team of NDDTC led by Dr. Atul ness generations as the predominant centres’ are unlikely to cater to the
Ambekar conducted the Survey. preventive strategy, is very weak. Pre- huge demand for treatment. Enhanc-
The AIIMS survey is considered very vention programmes must address ing treatment services as outpatient
significant as it employs a combination the risk and protective factors aimed clinics, which have all the necessary
of two data collection approaches. A at not just preventing substance use components (trained human resources,
Household Survey (HHS) was conduct- but ensuring that young people grow infrastructure, medicines and supplies,
ed among the representative, general and stay healthy into adulthood, ena- a system of monitoring and mentoring)
population (10-75 years old) of all the bling them to realize their potential is urgently required.
36 states and UTs of the country. This and become productive members of
was aimed primarily at studying the their community and society”. It sug- letters@tehelka.com

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