Dr. Prashant Joshi, CEO and Executive Director of AIIMS Nagpur, highlighted alarming figures from a 2019 AIIMS Delhi study, revealing that 2–3% of India’s population suffers from opioid and cannabis addiction. Shockingly, around 80–90% of these individuals especially in rural and semi-urban regions do not receive treatment due to a lack of awareness, resources, and trained professionals.
Speaking at a national conference on Anti-Drug Day, Dr. Joshi underscored the urgency of implementing tailored, evidence-based strategies and strengthening public health systems. “Addiction should be addressed through early detection, empathetic care and structured interventions,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of telemedicine initiatives like Tele-MANAS to reach areas lacking physical healthcare services and called for training paramedical staff to identify early warning signs and direct individuals to appropriate treatment.
Suhas Warke, Maharashtra’s Additional Director General of Prisons, added that 80% of the state’s prison population are undertrials, with only 20% being convicted. He noted that trials under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act are often prolonged, leading to extended pre-trial detention. Warke cited Byculla jail, where many young offenders are imprisoned for petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing committed under the influence of addiction.
Warke also discussed rehabilitation efforts such as Mission Prayas, which has helped rehabilitate 1,300 prisoners and counselled 3,000 released individuals. Under the Galabhet initiative, jail inmates battling addiction receive consistent support through family visits every two months, phone access, community radio and regular sessions with professional NGOs.
Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari stressed that drug rehabilitation cannot be managed by law enforcement alone. “Raising awareness about available rehab services and encouraging families to openly discuss drug use is key to lasting solutions,” he said. Chaudhari noted that the conference provided actionable insights for shaping improved drug control policies, reaffirming the NMC’s support for the police in this collective mission.
Ranjit Deol, Principal Secretary of School Education, emphasized the need for parents and teachers to be trained to recognize early signs of substance use such as isolation, mood swings and withdrawal. He advocated for integrating drug education into school curricula, involving parents and investing in technology-driven solutions that enable early intervention. “Policies must support a proactive approach engaging all stakeholders before addiction takes root,” he concluded.
