To help drug users tackle the menace of addiction and rebuild their lives and re-integrate into the mainstream, the Government is in its final stages of drafting the policy for Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention. By March this year, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) will be ready to move the draft policy for inter-ministerial consultation.
“We are inviting suggestions from stakeholders and public at large on the draft policy. Once we collate their suggestions, we will finalise the policy and send it for further suggestions from other ministries,” said a senior official from the MSJE.
“We are serious about handling this issue of drug menace. We have to help addicts and bring them into mainstream society,” said Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister, MSJE. Gehlot, on Tuesday, launched a national toll-free helpline (1800-11-0031) to assist the alcoholic and drug dependent persons, their families and communities affected.
“This helpline will help the needy reach out to counselors, who will guide them to the nearest centre which will be able to assist them get rid of their addiction. The addicts, without giving out their identities, could freely talk about their problems, seek advice and expect immediate counseling,” said the Minister.
As per a national survey conducted in 2000-2001 on the Extent, Pattern and Trends of Drug Abuse in India, sponsored by MSJE and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), alcohol, cannabis, opium and heroin were the major substances of abuse in India.
The prevalence rates according to the National Household Survey were- Alcohol 21.4 % Cannabis 3.0%, Opiate 0.7%, any illicit drug 3.6%, Injecting Drug Users (IDU) 0.1%
“It was estimated that there were approximately 8.7 million cannabis users and 2 million opiate users in India in 2001. The survey revealed that the problem was more serious in the Border States such as Punjab, Rajasthan, North-East and mega cities,” said the official from the Ministry.
“We were not happy with the results as we were dissatisfied with the methodology. We are working on starting a respondent driven survey to assess the actual nature of the problem,” he said.
The official said that Government has ordered a two-State survey in Punjab and Manipur, with the help of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Manipur. As things stand, the issue of drugs has led NDA allies BJP and the SAD at loggerheads in Punjab.
“Once we are satisfied with the methodology, we will give a go-ahead to the survey. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) is yet to fix a methodology and once it is in place, we will start the survey process,” he said. The Survey is expected to be completed by June, 2015.
A working group has been constituted by National Statistical Commission (NSC) under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation to devise the modalities of advance Pilot survey.
later, a meeting of the Parliamentary consultative committee of MSJE was also held to discuss steps for prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse and welfare of de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.