New Delhi
In India between 2017-19, over 2,300 people died due to high intoxication and the highest number of people in the age group 30-45 died. This information has been revealed by data from the National Crime Records Bureau. The bureau said that 745 people died due to excessive intoxication in 2017. After this, 875 people died in 2018 and 704 people in 2019.

According to the data, the highest number of 338 people died in Rajasthan. This was followed by 239 deaths in Karnataka and 236 in Uttar Pradesh. In 2017-19, the number of people in the age group 30-45 who died due to this was the highest at 784. At the same time, 55 children under 14 years of age died and 70 teenagers in the age group of 14-18 years died due to high intoxication. According to the figures, 624 people aged 18-30 years and 550 people aged 45-60 years died due to this. At the same time, 241 people aged 60 years or more died.

To tackle the problem of drug abuse, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recently launched the ‘Drug Free India Campaign’ (NMBA) in 272 highly affected districts. The program included access to narcotics bureaux, drug addicts and awareness by the Ministry of Social Justice and their treatment by the Department of Health.

A senior official said that the NMBA will be further strengthened and will continue to operate under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). In this, 13,000 young volunteers in 272 districts will be trained to work with the community towards the problems related to drug consumption. He informed that about 11.80 lakh people will be benefited from NAPDDR in FY 2021-22.

Experts said that the government should work on long-term treatment and rehabilitation to deal with drug consumption issues. Loon Gangate, regional coordinator for South Asia at the International Treatment Preparedness Commission, said that post-resettlement employment opportunities must be provided. He said that it is very important to ensure what will happen after rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is the easiest route and it is seen that after rehabilitation 80-90 per cent of the people get addicted again, so it is very important to prepare a plan after rehabilitation.