Use anti-drug fund for de-addiction services, not just policing: Social Justice Ministry

What is the News?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recently recommended that the National Fund to Control Drug Abuse be used to carry out de-addiction programmes, rather than just policing activities.

What is the National Fund to Control Drug Abuse?

The National Fund to Control Drug Abuse was created in accordance with a provision of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Purpose: The Act states that the fund would be used to combat illicit trafficking of narcotics, rehabilitate addicts and prevent drug abuse.

Funding: Under the NDPS Act, the sale proceeds of any property forfeited, grants made by any person and institution and income from the investments of the fund go towards the fund. 

Data on Usage of Drugs

According to World Drug Report 2021, around 275 million people used drugs worldwide last year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders. Opioids continue to account for the largest burden of disease attributed to drug use.

In India, the number of drug users is in the crores. According to the Social Justice Ministry report on the magnitude of substance use in 2019, there were 3.1 crore cannabis users (of which 25 lakh were dependent users) and 2.3 crore opioid users (of which 28 lakh were dependent users).

Terms to know:

• Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act

Source: This post is based on the article “Use anti-drug fund for de-addiction services, not just policing: Social Justice Ministry” published in “The Hindu” on 25th October 2021.