The Union government is preparing to launch the next round of the National Drug Use Survey (NDUS), a large-scale exercise that will shape India’s understanding of substance use patterns for the rest of the decade. Scheduled to run through 2026, the survey marks a significant expansion in scope, scale, and ambition, especially with its focus on indigenous forms of substance use and vulnerable populations.
What is the National Drug Use Survey?
The National Drug Use Survey is India’s primary evidence base for estimating the prevalence, patterns, and harms associated with substance use and substance use disorders. Funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the survey is conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Its findings inform policy design, budget allocations, de-addiction programmes, and India’s commitments under international drug control frameworks.
Why the 2025–26 round matters
The upcoming round will cover nearly 20 lakh individuals across States and districts, making it one of the largest substance-use surveys globally. This is a sharp jump from the 2017–18 round, which covered about five lakh individuals.
More importantly, the new survey arrives at a time when India is witnessing:
- Changing drug markets and synthetic substances,
- Rising concerns around youth substance use, and
- Persistent regional disparities in access to treatment and prevention.
The long gap of nearly a decade also means policymakers have been operating with outdated data—something this survey aims to correct.
Indigenous substance use enters the policy lens
For the first time, NDUS will document indigenous and locally accepted forms of substance use. In several communities, substances such as locally brewed alcoholic beverages, opium preparations, or cannabis have social sanction and ritualistic or cultural acceptance.
The survey seeks to examine:
- Whether such use leads to health or socio-economic harm,
- How it differs from contemporary patterns of substance abuse, and
- Whether policy responses should distinguish between traditional use and addiction-driven consumption.
This shift reflects a more nuanced approach, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all understanding of “drug use”.
Focus on high-risk and under-studied populations
Another major innovation is the targeted analysis of specific population groups that were inadequately captured earlier. These include:
- Prison inmates,
- School students,
- College and higher education students.
These groups often have higher vulnerability to substance use disorders but remain outside routine household surveys. Their inclusion could reshape prevention strategies, especially in education and correctional institutions.
New tools: wastewater testing and emerging substances
The survey will also explore the feasibility of wastewater-based epidemiology—a method increasingly used globally to estimate community-level drug consumption. By analysing chemical traces in sewage, authorities can detect patterns without relying solely on self-reported data.
In addition, the survey will track the use of “new and rarer” psychoactive substances, a critical step as drug markets shift toward synthetic and harder-to-detect compounds.
How the survey will be conducted
The NDUS will rely on a dual sampling strategy:
- Household survey: Covering about 4.4 lakh households across 400 districts, including men and women aged 10–75, totalling nearly 17.6 lakh individuals.
- Respondent-driven sampling: Targeting around 2.1 lakh individuals from drug-dependent populations across roughly 350 districts.
This approach balances population-wide estimates with focused insights into high-risk groups.
Policy implications and governance challenges
The expanded scope of NDUS raises important governance questions. Distinguishing cultural practices from harmful use will require sensitive interpretation. States may also face pressure to scale up treatment infrastructure once district-level data exposes unmet needs.
At the same time, better evidence can improve targeting of funds, strengthen early-intervention strategies, and support a public-health–oriented approach rather than a purely punitive one.
What to note for Prelims?
- NDUS is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Conducted by NDDTC, AIIMS.
- 2025–26 round covers ~20 lakh individuals.
- First inclusion of indigenous substance use and wastewater testing.
What to note for Mains?
- Significance of evidence-based policymaking in substance abuse control.
- Balancing cultural practices with public health concerns.
- Challenges in addressing youth and prison populations.
- Role of innovative tools like wastewater epidemiology in governance.
