Government Push for De-Addiction Centres in India

India’s de-addiction plan

Government Push for De-Addiction Centres in India: The Government of India is stepping up its efforts to fight substance abuse by setting up District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 gap districts. These are districts that do not have sufficient facilities for treating people with drug dependence. This move is under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, which is led by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

What DDACs will offer?

These centres will act as full-time rehabilitation and treatment hubs. Each DDAC will have administrative offices, in-patient wards, and spaces for community outreach. Depending on the population, each centre will treat 15 to 30 individuals at a time. All operations will follow strict norms to ensure the quality of services.

Government-supported efforts

Beyond DDACs, the government already runs several facilities under the national action plan. These include:

• 350 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs)
• 74 Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs)
• 46 Community-based Peer Led Initiatives (CPLIs)
• 124 functioning DDACs

This layered structure helps address addiction from prevention to rehabilitation.

Alarming substance use data

A new national survey is being planned to assess how widespread substance use is across India. Previous data pointed to nearly 7 crore adults and 1.18 crore children and teenagers using psychoactive substances. These figures show the deep-rooted issue and highlight the need for customised solutions based on region-specific data.

Role of NGOs and start-ups

To make the mission more inclusive, the government has invited proposals from NGOs and start-ups. These organisations should have at least two years of experience in drug treatment or related fields. Proposals need to be sent in by June 30. Their role includes holding awareness drives, prevention education, and risk mitigation, especially in vulnerable areas.

Prevention and early action

Prevention is a core focus of the DDACs. The plan includes educating people about the risks of substance use, training peer educators, and identifying early cases. Individuals identified will be referred to nearby rehabilitation centres for timely help. Prevention methods often involve school programs, youth clubs, and community sessions.

High-need areas

Among all states, Chhattisgarh stands out with 31 of its 33 districts listed as gap districts. Other states with a significant number of such districts include Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar. These findings stress the importance of urgent and targeted interventions.

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