A draft National Policy on Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (drugs) abuse and Rehabilitation on the recommendations of National Consultative Committee for De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR), is being formulated.

There is no authentic data to conclusively indicate that the use of alcohol and drugs has been rapidly increasing in the country. However, a sample survey is being conducted in the States of Manipur and Punjab and the city of Mumbai, through National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), on pilot basis to ascertain the extent and trends of substance abuse.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under its ‘Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse and for Social DefenceServices’ is providing financial assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations for awareness generation, motivational counseling, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug dependent persons. About 400 Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) are being assisted all over the country under the Scheme. National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) at New Delhi has been established to serve as an apex body for training, research and documentation in the field of alcoholism and drug demand reduction. Eight Non-Governmental Organizaitons (NGOs), with long years of experience and expertise in treatment, rehabilitation, training and research have been designated as Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) for different regions of the country for capacity building and sill upgradation of service providers.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also running 122 de-addiction centres in the Government Hospitals.

Narcotics Control Bureau is empowered to enforce the provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

This information was given by Shri D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha