Survey red flags substance abuse among students
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 25 2025: A focused thematic study conducted as part of the National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India has highlighted concerning trends of substance use among school and college students across the country.

The study, conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) between 2018 and 2019, covered 10 locations to assess substance use patterns among students.

According to information shared by union MoS for home affairs, Nityanand Rai; the survey revealed that among 5,920 school students sampled, 2.8 per cent reported using opioids in the past 12 months, followed by 2 per cent using cannabis and 0.6 per cent using sedatives.

Similarly, among 2,533 college students surveyed, 6.3 per cent reported using 'charas' or ganja, while pharmaceutical opioids accounted for 1.6 per cent.

Sedatives were used by 1.5 per cent, and smaller percentages reported using cocaine (0.5 percent), hallucinogens (0.4 percent), and amphetamines (0.2 percent) .

To address this growing concern, the department of social justice and empowerment has been implement ing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at rehabilitation and raising awareness, particularly among school children and youth.

Under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched on August 15, 2020, awareness programmes have reached over 14.79 crore people, including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women.

The campaign, now extended to all districts Across the country, has engaged over 4.16 lakh educational institutions and trained more than 10,000 Master Volunteers (MVs) to sustain its momentum.

Additionally, initiatives such as the Navchetna Modules, a teacher training module promoting life skills and drug education in schools, and 46 Community-Based Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI) centres focus on creating awareness and imparting life skills to vulnerable children and adolescents.

A toll-free helpline (14446) has also been established to provide counselling and immediate referral services to those seeking help.

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