In Punjab, the magnitude of substance abuse amongst minors is worrisome. It’s all the more alarming amongst adults between the age group of 18 to 75 years. If one goes by the estimated figures of drug users in the state, given in the survey – ‘Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India -2019’, conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in association with National Drug Dependence and Treatment Centre (NDDTC) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), over 6 lakh 25 thousand minors of 10 to 17 years are using various substances like Cannabis, Opioids, Sedatives, Cocaine, Amphetamine type stimulants or ATS and Hallucinogens. The number of adult users of the same substances is all the more startling at over 63 lakh 60 thousand.

Quoting the 51st Report of the Standing Committee on Social Justice & Empowerment for the year 2022-23, this information was given by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, recently. This is the first time that substance use in all the states and UTs studied and documented in the country. According to the survey report, besides substance abuse, Punjab is 2nd amongst the top ten states in the country where people of various age groups are injecting drugs. Whereas, Haryana is at number 6.

Meanwhile, the Minister has also stated that the government has taken various measures to combat the drug crisis in Punjab. One of that is an Advisory Board on Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) matters has been constituted in the State of Punjab. This will not only help Punjab Police with their cases but Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will also be recommending such case before the Advisory Board.