Page 45 - Mann Ki Baat - English
P. 45
CHALLENGES OF
DRUG MENACE IN INDIA
communities
through crime,
violence, and
economic losses,
as well as posing
challenges on
various fronts.
To tackle the increasing issue
of substance use in India and
adopt prevention as the primary
strategy, the Department of
B L Verma Social Justice and Empowerment,
being the nodal agency for drug
Minister of State for Social
demand reduction in India,
Justice and Empowerment launched its flagship campaign,
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, on
th
August 15 , 2020, with the primary
goal of ensuring the prevention
of drug use and fostering
awareness against drug use.
Drug use is a pervasive and
Since its inception, the Abhiyaan
multi-dimensional issue that
has transcended its initial scope
affects people from all strata of
to evolve into a significant
society and has now become
societal movement, involving
a global menace. The drug
an impressive engagement of
menace in India is a severe and
over 12 crore individuals. With a
severe problem, impacting the
notable participation of over 4
public health infrastructure,
crore youth and more than 3 crore
social stability, and economic
women taking a leading role, the
development. With the increasing
Abhiyaan stands as a beacon
use of substances, the country
of hope and transformative
faces significant challenges in
change.
combating addiction and related
Awareness of youth and
health issues. The problem is
women is given special focus in
particularly acute in regions
the drive towards the prevention
with international boundaries,
of drug use. This is done to ensure
making the high-risk population
the welfare of youth and to reap
especially vulnerable, which
the benefits of growth that the
includes youth and adolescents
demographic dividend provides.
in large numbers.
Several Community Peer-Led
The consequences extend
Interventions (CPLI) have been
beyond individuals, affecting
taken up by the department
families and
to prevent and reduce the
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