Islamabad, 15 Oct 2023: A recently unveiled report reveals a significant dependency on substances such as alcohol, cannabis, and opiates among the Indian population, characterizing drug use as a deeply entrenched issue in the society. The study, conducted in partnership between the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and India’s Ministry of Social Justice, found millions grappling with substance dependence.

Kashmir Media Service stated that the release of the report, which was concluded over a year and a half ago, had been delayed due to the reluctance of the former Bharatiya Janata Party government. The delay stemmed from their reluctance to publicly recognize and admit the scale of the issue, which they perceived as being in contradiction to Indian culture and potentially damaging to the country’s reputation.

The nationwide survey, which involved interviews with over 40,000 males between the ages of 12 and 60, explored drug misuse patterns. Additional studies were conducted to assess drug misuse among specific demographic groups, including women, prison inmates, and individuals in rural and border regions. The primary substances abused in the country include alcohol, cannabis, opium, and heroin, with Buprenorphine, propoxyphene, and heroin being the most frequently injected drugs.

Based on the prevalence rates and India’s population, the report estimates that 62.5 million Indians consume alcohol, 8.75 million use cannabis, two million are opiate users, and around 0.6 million use sedatives or hypnotics. The survey determined that between 17% and 26% of these individuals qualify as dependent users, requiring immediate medical intervention.

A notable percentage of opiate and cannabis users are projected to seek treatment, while one in every six alcohol consumers is anticipated to do the same. Challenging common perceptions, drug injection isn’t only prevalent in the north-eastern regions but is widespread across the country. Remarkably, even rural areas reported instances of heroin misuse and injecting drug usage.

With common practices like needle sharing and unsafe sexual activities, there’s a rising concern for public health. Dr. Rajat Ray, the head of the Centre for Behavioural Sciences at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, emphasized the need for more than just treatment centers, advocating for a proactive approach in encouraging millions of users to seek help and treatment.