Based on the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, India has emerged as a significant hub in the global illicit drug trade. This includes traditional substances such as cannabis, along with new entrants like prescription drugs and designer drugs. With a rising trend of online drug procurement using cryptocurrencies on darknet platforms, India’s role is not only restricted to a market but also acts as a transit point for illegal opiates including heroine. Let’s delve deeper into the implications of these findings.
The Scope of Drug Trafficking in India
Geographically, India is positioned between two major illicit opium producing regions – the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the west, and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the east. This strategic location makes India a pivotal point in the global drug trafficking map. The UNODC report indicates over 1,000 drug listings originating from India across 50 crypto-market platforms.
The Extent of Substance Use in India
The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi recently produced a report titled “Magnitude of Substance Use in India”. This study focused on a range of substances which included Alcohol, Cannabis, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), Sedatives, Inhalants and Hallucinogens.
The survey revealed that approximately 14.6% of the population, within the age group 10-75, are current alcohol users. Additionally, around 2.8% of Indians have reported the use of any cannabis product within the past 12 months. Surprisingly, about 1.08% of Indians aged between 10-75 years are current users of non-medical, non-prescription sedatives.
Lack of Substance Use Treatments in India
The NDDTC report highlighted the significant gap in treatment services for people affected by substance use disorders. A mere one in 38 people with alcohol dependence reported getting any treatment. On the same line, only about one in 180 people with alcohol dependence reported seeking inpatient treatment or hospitalization to deal with alcohol problems. Among people suffering from dependence on illegal drugs, only one in 20 people have ever received inpatient treatment or hospitalization assistance for their drug issues.
Substance Use Facts
| Substance | Percentage of Users (age 10-75) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 14.6% |
| Cannabis | 2.8% |
| Sedatives (non-medical, non-prescription) | 1.08% |
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Established in 1997, the UNODC functions as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. It was formed by merging the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office at Vienna. In 2002, it was officially renamed as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Among its various activities, UNODC publishes the annual World Drug Report.
