June 26th of each year is an important day in India; this is the day they celebrate International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking each year. Because drug abuse is so prevalent, India feels it's necessary to educate their people, especially the youth on the dangers associated with drug addiction. The number of drug addicts in India increase every day. There are over one million heroin addicts registered in India according to a UN report. There may be as many as five million according to others.

Many drugs are abused in India but cannabis (marijuana), and pharmaceutical drugs that are Indian produced are the most commonly abused. Cannabis products are often called charas, bhang or ganja is abused throughout the country, because of the religious sanctity associated with the drug it seems to be extremely widespread. Alcohol abuse is quite low compared to other countries, some say this has a lot to do with the fact that Hindus are a large part of India’s population and alcoholic beverages are forbidden for Brahmins.

Opiate addiction in the past was abused by many but statistics are beginning to show a decrease in opiate abuse and an increase in heroin abuse. India is located in the middle of two major opium producing centers in Asia. This opium is mainly transported to inter-national drug markets though. Heroin appears to be a drug of choice and heavily abused by many people in India today and steadily growing.

Narcotics like codeine based cough syrups continue to be trafficked in from the black market and are heavily abused by many people in India. Narcotic abuse and addiction is very common throughout the country.

Because of widespread injecting drug abuse in India, AIDS and HIV are extremely prevalent. Sadly, India is the home of the largest AIDS-HIV epidemics in the world. Due to the illicit use of injecting drugs and promiscuous sexual behavior, sexually transmitted diseases are extremely prevalent in Maharashtra and throughout India.

Drug Treatment Centers

In India, drug addicts are primarily the family’s responsibility. Treatment is generally voluntary and available through general health services. Now they are offering state level hospitals which include drug rehab centers for inpatient treatment. This is offered for the chronically drug addicted through their psychiatry departments. There are also community based drug treatment programs in operation in many different regions of the country.

The Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation and Research Center (DAIRRC) is a Charitable Trust organization and they have a lot to do with drug rehabilitation for drug addicts. This organization was founded in 1982 in the city of Mumbai.

Alcohol

I ran across an interesting fact concerning alcohol in Maharashtra. In 1953 a foreign liquor rule went into effect that states the following: In Maharashtra a liquor permit is necessary for the purchase, possession transport, and consumption of liquor. Any person above the age of 25 years is eligible to obtain the liquor permit for preservation and maintenance of his health.

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