To assess nature of drug addiction Manipur, Punjab selected for pilot survey
Source: The Sangai Express / TNN

New Delhi, July 04 2014 : After a gap of fourteen years since it last checked the trend of drug abuse in the country, the Centre is now all set to conduct an "advanced survey" on the extent, pattern and trend of drug abuse among the citizens.

In order to assess the extent and nature of addiction in the country at present, the government will conduct an advanced pilot survey in two states of Punjab and Manipur and then a national survey to see the extend, pattern and trends of drug abuse in the country.

These submissions were made by the Centre before the Delhi High court on Wednesday while filing an affidavit and stated that the efforts were underway by NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) in coordination with the Ministry to start the survey.

"During the period of March 2000 to November 2001, a national household survey on the extent of pattern and trends of drug abuse in the country was undertaken under the sponsorship of ministry of social justice and empowerment and UN office on Drugs and Crime the results of which were published in 2004.Based on projections, it was estimated 2 million persons use opiates drug and 62.6 million persons were alcohol users....efforts are underway to conduct an advanced survey across the country," stated the affidavit filed before the division bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw.

The affidavit, submitted by Central government's counsel Sumeet Pushkarna, was in response to a PIL that alleged a total lack of any governing or controlling body relating to the running of de-addiction and rehabilitation of alcoholics and drugs de-addiction Centres in Delhi and across the country.

Refuting the allegations that around Rs 300-400 crores is spent on de-addiction centres and there is no coherent or proper policy in place for the running and maintaining such de-addiction centres, the government said that on an average only Rs 30 crores were spent annually under the scheme.

"Further the scheme categorically mentions the minimum standards in the services being delivered by the de-addiction centres," it said.

Claiming that no instances of inhuman conditions like thrashing, meeting, locking-up etc.

has been noted by the inspection authorities of the states/UTs in de-addiction centres, the centre claimed that the ministry has been giving grant in aid to about 350-400 integrated rehabilitation Centres for addicts across the country and about 122 government hospitals across the country also have de-addiction centres, which are managed by the state governments.

Accepting the counter affidavit, the bench said it would appoint an amicus curie to asisst it.

"The issues raised in the petition require judicial examination," it said.

The petition, filed by Rajiv Boolchand Jain, sought directions to lay down a "coherent policy and procedures" for the drug and alcoholic de-addiction and rehabilitation centres so that they are easily accessible to patients suffering from chronic addictions to narcotic substances and alcohol.

In his petition, he prayed that central government should immediately stop all grants under "Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse" as the NGOs are "misusing" these grants for personal gains.

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