Substance dependence in India is a public health challenge rather than a law-and-order problem. Examine in light of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and NAPDDR.

The first National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use (2018) found that over 7 crore Indians had substance use disorders, including about 1.2 crore children [1]. This scale shows the problem is mainly about health and demand. The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and its awareness arm, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), are built on this view, although enforcement still has a supporting role.

Public-health approach under NAPDDR and NMBA

• Treating demand, not just supply: NAPDDR rests on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. NMBA treats dependence as a psycho-social and medical condition, "not merely a law-and-order issue" [1].
• Prevention through schools: the Navchetna modules sensitise students of Classes 6–11, their teachers and parents [2].
• Scale and community action: NMBA started in 272 vulnerable districts in 2020 and covered all districts by 2023. Its Nasha Mukti Mitr volunteers carry the message locally [1].
• More people seeking help: treatment seekers rose from 2.08 lakh (2020-21) to 9.11 lakh+ (2025-26) [1].
• Legal and constitutional basis: Section 71 of the NDPS Act lets the State set up treatment centres [3]. Article 47 directs the State to work towards prohibiting drugs that harm health.

Why the law-and-order lens persists

• Users can still be prosecuted: Section 27 of the NDPS Act makes drug use a crime. Section 64A gives immunity only to addicts who volunteer for treatment [3]. Fear of arrest still keeps many users and families from seeking help.
• Not enough treatment capacity: there are only 198 District De-Addiction Centres [1]. The 730+ free NAPDDR facilities have treated about 27.76 lakh people in total, roughly 4% of the 2018 burden [4].
• No outcome data: the Standing Committee's 51st Report (2023) called for periodic surveys, an impact assessment of NAPDDR and faster use of funds [5].
• Supply side: trafficking networks still need enforcement by agencies under the Home Ministry, such as the NCB.

Way forward

• Run a fresh national survey on drug use and track outcomes: referrals, treatment completion and relapse [5].
• Set up DDACs in districts that have none, and make wider use of Section 64A [3].
• Build Navchetna into the regular school curriculum [2][5].

NAPDDR and NMBA rightly put health at the centre of drug policy, while enforcement deals with supply. If treatment capacity grows, outcomes are measured and the law treats users as patients, the campaign can deliver the health goals of Article 47 and SDG 3.5 (prevention and treatment of substance abuse).