THE PROBLEM CONTEXT: Addiction in India
Amidst the several problems plaguing the country, one that frequently gets marginalized and
often misrepresented is the issue of drug/substance addiction. The number of drug users in the country have been growing exponentially over the years- with alcohol, cannabis, opioids and
heroin being the most used substances.
While certain states (Punjab and Uttar Pradesh) have a
higher occurrence of users, addiction and drug use have societal relevance and must be
addressed with due information and expertise.
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s report on the “National Survey
on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India” (2019), the numbers of drug users and
substance dependents in the country are alarmingly high with nearly 16 crore alcohol users, 3.1
crore cannabis users and 60 lakh opioid users who are in need of treatment. While these figures
capture the depth of the issue only partially, it does highlight the magnanimity of the problem
that is at hand.
Drug and substance abuse have serious implications not only for the dependents but for their
family and community. The impact on physical and mental well-being, financial burden, lack of
ability to participate in everyday life, correlation with violence have given this issue a
multifaceted dimension that requires immediate, continuous and concerted efforts.
One of the strongest obstacles to addressing this issue is the general belief that addiction is a
matter of choice-that the dependent has lived/continues to live a life of indulgence.
However, as
a report by Give India accurately points out, addiction is a chronic disorder and is characterized
by a compulsive need to use. There is little regard for the consequences as the sense of control
is increasingly diminished by the dependency on substances.
Several factors contribute to why
an individual becomes dependent-from the stress of life to peer pressure.
In order to effectively transform this situation in the country, collaborative efforts among various
stakeholders is the need of the hour but starts with sensitisation of the public.
West Bengal:
Target Group: Sandhit Foundation’s work focuses on street addicts in the age group of 20-25,
predominantly in the urban localities. The group includes mostly males, who have been long
term (5+ years) users, unemployed, uneducated and frequently alienated from families.
Interventions Planned:
Sandhit Foundation comes with a unique blend of experience and expertise to address the
growing concern with addiction.
Our work in this areas will be strategized as below to holistically
and sensitively tackle the problem:
● Partnerships & Treatments: Tapping into the growing partnership base of Sandhit
Foundation with rehabilitation and treatment centers across states, CMF will enable
dependents to access cost-free treatments and allow them to start off on their road to
recovery.
● Training & Capacity Building: The users will have access to life-skill enhancement
training and sessions, which will build their capacity as professionals.
● Grassroots Survey: The trained team of volunteers will conduct a field survey to identify
families who are coping with a dependent.
● Livelihood: Based on the skills, Sandhit Foundation will facilitate employment
opportunities for the dependents to empower their reentry into society.
● Information & Awareness Campaign: The core team will sensitize the individual, family
and immediate community on addiction, available resources and the optimum plan to
overcome the situation.