The figures amount to over nine percent of the state's population consuming drugs, including 2.8 lakh children, such as cannabis, opioids, sedatives, cocaine and others
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment’s report, which was tabled in the recently-concluded Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha, revealed that Telangana, with a population of 3.5 crore, has over 29 lakh “drug users”.
Of these, the report said, 1.90 lakh adults are regular cannabis users, 5.47 lakh are using opioid drugs that include heroin and codeine, and 16.63 lakh are resorting to sedatives.
The report also revealed that 1.65 lakh adults were consuming “inhalants” in Telangana.
Estimated number of children using drugs. (SouthFirst)
What is more worrying, as well as startling, is the drug-use patterns reported in children and teens aged between 10 and 17 years.
In Telangana, an estimated 2.79 lakh children are hooked on drugs — the highest being opioids consumed by 98,000 children, said the report.
It is followed by inhalants that are taken by 71,000 children, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) by 46,000, and sedatives by 36,000, it added.
The figures amount to over 9 percent of the state’s population consuming drugs.
The Parliamentary Committee, in its report titled Drug abuse among young persons: Problems and solutions, expressed shock over the fact that the menace of drug addiction was spreading fast among adults, young adults, and even children in India.
Opioids, which have a morphine-like effect, is used medically for pain relief. They are also used non-medically for their euphoric effects or to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
State wise statistics of people effected by drug abuse. (SouthFirst)
While Telangana tops the list of Southern states, it is followed by Andhra Pradesh with over 17 lakh of its adult population consuming drugs, the report stated.
When it comes to children, aged 10-17 years, over 3.19 lakh of them are resorting to illegal substances — the highest being opioids taken by 1.36 lakh children. Opioids are medications commonly prescribed by doctors to treat persistent or severe pain.
Karnataka lies third on the list with 13.58 lakh of its adult population turning to drugs, the highest again being opioids (6.39 lakh people). A total of 2.19 lakh children in the state are also consuming illicit drugs, the report stated.
In Tamil Nadu, as many as 10.07 lakh adults are hooked on drugs, while in neighbouring Kerala, 9.82 lakh people consume these banned substances.
However, the number of children taking drugs in Kerala is 1.14 lakh, in comparison to 87,100 in Tamil Nadu.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee said it was pained to see that opioids, sedatives, and inhalants were widely prevalent among children aged 10-17 years.
Estimated number of adults using drugs. (SouthFirst)
Over 66 lakh adults are hooked on drugs in Punjab, which has a population of about 3 crore, said the report.
It highlighted that 21.36 lakh people were consuming different types of opioids, 30.68 lakh are regular cannabis users, 9.93 lakh are on sedatives, 1.87 on inhalants, 1.5 lakh on cocaine, and 1.36 on stimulants.
According to the report, as many as 6.97 lakh children are hooked on drugs in Punjab. Of these, 18,100 were children who were consuming cocaine. Around 3.43 lakh children were taking opioids, including heroin.
The report further revealed that 72,000 children in Punjab were taking inhalants, 1.43 lakh were consuming cannabis, and 93,000 are on sedatives.
Addressing the state after unfurling the national flag on India’s 77th Independence Day, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said chitta (slang for synthetic drugs) addiction was one of the biggest problems of Punjab.
He vowed that Punjab will be free of synthetic drugs by the 2024 Independence Day.
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