More than 4 lakh children are inhalant addicts: survey

More than 4 lakh children are inhalant addicts: survey

1. According to a recent study by National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, Delhi, 5.7 crore people in India suffer from alcohol dependence. Alcohol abuse is particularly very high in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha registered maximum cannabis dependence. Opioid addiction was highest in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Further, inhalant dependence is high among children.
3. In 2018, the Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment had drafted National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. It aimed at drug demand reduction by 2023. It focused on a) awareness generation, b) capacity building, c) rehabilitation and d) specific intervention in vulnerable areas. The draft was withdrawn from the Cabinet to include data from NDDTC survey on the extent and pattern of substance use in India.