NCRB doesn't have data on deaths due to drug overdose after 2015: Govt

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not have data on deaths due to drug overdose after 2015, the government told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Rattan Lal Kataria told the Lok Sabha that according to the NCRB, which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, 874 and 750 people have died in the country due to drug overdose during 2014 and 2015 respectively.

"However, data for the subsequent years is not available with them," he said in a written reply to a question. He said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has begun implementation of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025 with an aim of reducing adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy involving education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.

Activities under NAPDDR include awareness generation programmes in schools/ colleges/universities, workshops/seminars/interactions with parents, community based peer-led intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescents and youth in the community. The ministry also implements a Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse under which financial assistance is provided to eligible NGOs for running integrated rehabilitation centres for addicts (IRCAs) to provide composite and integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including youth, the minister said.

"During 2019-20, an amount of Rs 105 crore is allocated under 'Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse and Rs 135 crore is allocated under the NAPDDR," Kataria said.