Substance Abuse in India: Understanding the Pattern and Depths

Abstract

Substance abuse is a significant global public health concern, and India is not an exception. All over the India, a  variety of substances are consumed, such as tobacco, opioids, alcohol, and illegal drugs. In order to comprehend the prevalence and distribution of substance use in India, this review paper presents an overview of the statistics that are currently accessible. In order to investigate patterns and trends among various communities, women, and vulnerable groups, the two survey reports on substance use in India (2004 and 2019) were reviewed. Early findings from these investigations indicates that alcohol is the most widely used drug in India, with tobacco and opioids coming in second and third. These substances have a negative impact on people's health and increase their risk of illness, impacting their families, and the system of healthcare. 16.6 crore individuals, or 14.6% of the population, were alcohol drinkers, according to a national survey on the prevalence and trends of substance use in India that was carried out in 2019. The two most widely used drugs in India are cannabis and opioids, together used by about 3.1 crore people, or 2.8% of the country's population. These findings emphasized the significance of interventions for the millions of youth who are susceptible to addiction and who face the danger of experiencing health problems and other unfavorable social consequences.  Considering the enormous treatment deficit in the country, India has to make major investments to increase treatment options. In summary, understanding the prevalence and patterns of substance use in India is essential for developing effective public health programs. Developing comprehensive and long-lasting interventions to mitigate the detrimental impacts of substance use on public health and wellbeing necessitates a multidimensional approach that considers socioeconomic considerations, cultural sensitivities, and regional variations.