What Centre Said On Increase In Usage Of Narcotics Drugs In Kerala (image: Pixabay)
New Delhi: As per latest data published by National Crime records Bureau (NCRB) pertaining to the year 2022, number of cases registered in Kerala for possession of drugs for personal use/ consumption has raised to 24,959 from 1,660 in 2020, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (March 26).
In response to question raised by Rajya Sabha MP P. T. Usha regarding the details on usage of narcotic drugs in Kerala, especially among the youth and adolescents, Ministry provided the following data.
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As per the survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) in association with National Drug Dependence and Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), among the children aged (10-17 yrs), as per the estimates, 15,000 use Cannabis, 31,000 use Opioids, 11,000 use Sedatives, 1000 use Cocaine, 6000 use ATS, 11000 use Hallucinogens. Similarly, among the adults aged (18-75 yrs), 3,52,000 use Cannabis, 2,12,000 use Opioids, 1,32,000 use Sedatives, 1,3000 use Cocaine, 31,000 use ATS, 9,100 use Hallucinogens.
Adding further, the government also shared the data collected by the NCRB pertaining to the year 2022 regarding the possession of drugs for personal use/ consumption and possession of drugs for trafficking during the year 2020 to 2022.
From 2020 to 2022, possession of drugs for personal use/ consumption has increased from 4,582 to 24,959 and possession of drugs for trafficking has increased from 386 to 1,660 in Kerala, the data reflects.
Further, Minister detailed about the steps being taken to create awareness among youth against drug consumption in the country. Some of the steps adopted include launching Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), and opening facilities like Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs), Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), District De-addiction Centres and (DDACs).
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Aside from this, a toll-free helpline no.14446 for de-addiction has been operationalised. Further more, awareness generation with the help of National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), and development of Navchetna Modules, Teachers Training Modules for sensitising students (6th – 11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills were also adopted to address the problem of Drug Abuse including youth, Minister added.
