DRUG MENACE IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issue)

Context: Prime Minister of India expressed concern over the growing drug menace among the youth and urged religious leaders and influencers to take the issue seriously.

Drug Menace in India

• Major Substances: Alcohol, cannabis, opium, and heroin dominate the list of abused drugs in India.
• Youth Vulnerability: Approximately 13% of drug and substance abusers in India fall under the age group of 20 and below.
• Critical Period: Adolescence stands out as a critical-risk period for the initiation of substance use.
• Juvenile Justice Act: Children affected by substance abuse are categorized as children in need of care and protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.
• Affected States: Punjab, Assam, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar, Delhi, and others are prominently affected by the issue.
• Root Causes of Drug Abuse: Poverty, peer pressure, illiteracy, low self-esteem, genetic predisposition, etc.

Initiatives to Control Drug Menace

• NDPS Act, 1985: The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, outlines provisions for identification, treatment, rehabilitation, and more.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Launched in 272 vulnerable districts, this initiative focuses on community outreach to combat substance abuse.
• SIMS Portal: The Seizure Information Management System (SIMS) portal is dedicated to handling cases involving significant drug seizures.
• NAPDDR 2018-2025: The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025 adopts a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue effectively.
• UN Conventions: The UN conventions, including the Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), shape global efforts in controlling narcotic and psychotropic substances.