Centre submits before SC: It is finalising a National Policy on Drug Demand Reduction to combat rising menace of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

December 5,2017:

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud expounded that harmful effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco abuse among the children should be made a specific content in school curriculum under aegis of New Education Policy proposed by Centre.

On Monday, Centre submitted before the Supreme Court that it is finalising a National Policy on the Drug Demand Reduction to combat rising menace of the drug and alcohol abuse, especially among the children.

Ministry of the Social Justice and Empowerment made the submission before Apex Court Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra that the 18 States have responded to an advisory sent by Centre to formulate an action plan for combating the drug abuse.

Ministry, in an affidavit stated that it had assigned National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre under All India Institute of Medical Sciences to conduct the national survey on extent and pattern of the substance use. The final report is expected by March,2018.

Affidavit was on a petition filed by the Telugu Yuva Shakti Member Kethireddy Jagadeeswar Reddy, for a CBI investigation in connection with recent drug scandal involving the Telegu celebrities.

Ministry's Affidavit refers to December 14, 2016 judgment of Apex Court which ordered Centre to complete within six months a national survey and generate a national database on the substance abuse.

Verdict quotes from Census 2011 that 24 crore children, constituting 24% of population of the country, are adolescent. They constitute a vulnerable age group for the social, educational, moral and physical development. Protecting the children from the wide-spread prevalence of the substance abuse is one of biggest policy challenges faced in India.

The December 2016 decision of Supreme Court was on a petition filed by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan highlighting that fundamental rights of the children, especially those suffering from and involved in the substance use and abuse, were violated due to the non-compliance with Government’s action plan for reduction in the drug demand and supply.

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