Steps to Reduce Drug Abuse: 1800 - 11 - 0031 – National Toll Free Drug De-Addiction Helpline Number

A 24 × 7 National Toll Free Drug De-addiction Helpline Number 1800 - 11 - 0031 has been set up to help the victims of drug abuse. The last National Survey on the extent, pattern, and trend of drug abuse was sponsored by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the year 2000 - 2001.

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Advisory from the Ministry to the State

  • The Ministry has issued an advisory to all the States⟋UTs on combating drug abuse, which advises them to prepare an Action Plan, which, inter-alia, includes conducting sensitization and preventive education programmes in schools and colleges throughout the year.

Initiatives Taken by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to Reduce Drug Abuse

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has undertaken the following initiatives:-

  • The Ministry in the year 2016, conducted an awareness generation programme, in collaboration with Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) , to create awareness in children and youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse in 156 schools in 22 districts of Punjab covering.
  • The Ministry organized two Regional Workshops during the year 2015 - 16, in collaboration with National Service Scheme (NSS) , at Shillong and Indore.
  • The Ministry also used print, electronic, and social media for creating awareness in regional languages. All India Radio programme ՚sanwarti Jayen Jeevan Ki Rahen and advertisements in newspapers were used for awareness creation.
  • The Ministry celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June every year by holding functions and organizing exhibitions to sensitize the people about the ill effects of drug abuse.
  • National Awards are also conferred to individuals and institutions in order to recognize the efforts and encourage excellence in the field of prevention of substance abuse.
  • This Ministry implements a Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse under which financial assistance is provided to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies etc. for, inter-alia, running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts.
  • The de-addiction centres financially assisted by the Central Government in a State⟋UT depend on the number of proposals received from the State Government⟋UT Administration.
Steps to Reduce Drug Abuse

The Need for a Helpline

  • Drug hotlines (drug addiction help lines) provide support and options for those who are using, abusing, or addicted to drugs.
  • Each drug addiction hotline has its own charter and goals, but all are committed to helping end drug addiction.
  • The specific focus of our 24-hour addiction hotline is to get an understanding of specific situation and to suggest an individualized treatment program.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is a Government of India ministry.
  • It is responsible for welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, including scheduled castes (SC) , Other Backward Classes (OBC) , the disabled, the elderly, and the victims of drug abuse.
  • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is responsible for the welfare of scheduled tribes (ST) .

National Level Survey to Curb Drug Addiction

  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is set to undertake a National level Survey in collaboration with National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, and New Delhi.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in August 2016. The survey will provide national and state-level estimates of proportion and absolute number of individuals using various drugs and suffering from substance use disorders.
  • During the year 2017 - 18, National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) has conducted 127 capacity building programme imparting training to 4488 persons. They have also conducted 247 awareness generation programmes in various Schools and Universities⟋Colleges covering 23006 beneficiaries.
  • The report published in 2004 said that Survey estimated that about 7.32 Crore persons in India were users of alcohol and drugs. Of these 87 lakh used Cannabis, 20 lakh used opiates and 6.25 Crore were users of Alcohol.

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Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021