15.10 crore adults addicted to alcohol in India, 2.90 crore use cannabis: MoS B.L. Verma
Synopsis
India's first comprehensive national substance use survey, cited in Parliament, reveals a staggering 15.10 crore adult alcohol users and 40 lakh adolescent opioid users — numbers that reframe the scale of the country's addiction crisis and put the government's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan under fresh scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
15.10 crore Indian adults aged 18–75 use alcohol, making it the most consumed substance nationally, per the NDDTC–AIIMS national survey.
Other adult users include 2.90 crore cannabis users, 1.90 crore opioid users, 1.10 crore sedative users, and 60 lakh inhalant users.
Among children and adolescents (ages 10–17), the survey estimates 40 lakh opioid users, 30 lakh each for alcohol and inhalants, and 20 lakh cannabis users.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan , active since 15 August 2020 , has reached over 29.68 crore citizens, including 11.43 crore youth and 8.05 crore women.
More than 28.29 lakh people have been treated and rehabilitated; 55 new DDACs were approved in 2024-25 and 21 more in 2025-26 .
Verma disclosed the figures in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 23 July .
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. Verma disclosed on Thursday, 23 July that a national survey has found alcohol to be the most widely consumed substance among Indian adults aged 18 to 75 years, with nearly 15.10 crore users. The figures, shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, are drawn from the first National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Scale of Substance Use Among Adults
After alcohol, the survey estimates 2.90 crore cannabis users, 1.90 crore opioid users, 1.10 crore sedative users, and 60 lakh inhalant users among adults. The data underscores the breadth of India's substance dependency challenge, spanning multiple categories beyond alcohol.
Notably, these figures represent the first systematic, evidence-based national mapping of substance use, giving policymakers a clearer baseline than previous estimates.
Children and Adolescents at Risk
The survey's findings on younger populations are particularly alarming. Among children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, the data estimates approximately 40 lakh opioid users, 30 lakh alcohol users, 30 lakh inhalant users, and 20 lakh cannabis users. Verma said these numbers underscore the urgent need for sustained awareness, prevention, and treatment initiatives targeting younger age groups.
Government's Response: NAPDDR and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). Verma said the Ministry has introduced a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to simplify fund releases to partner NGOs and reduce documentation requirements, improving administrative efficiency.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched on 15 August 2020 and expanded to all districts in August 2023, has reached more than 29.68 crore citizens to date — including over 11.43 crore youth and 8.05 crore women — through nationwide awareness activities. More than 1.17 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras have joined the campaign to strengthen community-level participation.
Treatment, Rehabilitation and Infrastructure
According to the written reply, more than 28.29 lakh people have been treated and rehabilitated under the programme, with outreach conducted in 21.73 lakh educational institutions across the country. During 2024-25, 55 new District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) were approved in gap districts, and a further 21 DDACs were established in 2025-26, expanding the national de-addiction infrastructure.
The Ministry has also launched the NMBA 2.0 Mobile Application, enabling citizens to locate their nearest de-addiction centre. Verma said the Department has established a stringent monitoring mechanism to ensure timely processing of proposals and release of funds under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY).
What Comes Next
With the survey now providing a verified baseline, the Ministry's stated focus is on expanding de-addiction infrastructure, streamlining fund flows to NGOs, and scaling awareness campaigns. Whether the pace of new centre approvals and rehabilitation coverage can keep up with the scale of the problem — over 21 crore adult substance users across categories — will be the key measure of policy effectiveness in the coming years.
Point of View
India's addiction burden is a public health emergency — yet the government's primary metric of success remains 'citizens reached' by campaigns rather than verified reductions in use. The expansion of de-addiction centres is welcome, but 76 new DDACs across two financial years looks thin against a baseline of this magnitude. The NDDTC survey gives India its first credible national estimate; the harder question is whether the policy architecture is scaled to match the data.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people in India are addicted to alcohol according to the national survey?
The national survey cited by MoS B.L. Verma in Lok Sabha on 23 July estimates nearly 15.10 crore adults aged 18 to 75 years use alcohol, making it the most widely consumed substance in India. The data comes from the first National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by NDDTC at AIIMS, New Delhi.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and how far has it reached?
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) is a government-led awareness campaign against substance abuse, launched on 15 August 2020 and expanded to all districts in August 2023. It has reached more than 29.68 crore citizens to date, including over 11.43 crore youth and 8.05 crore women, with outreach in 21.73 lakh educational institutions.
How many children and adolescents are affected by drug use in India?
The national survey estimates around 40 lakh opioid users, 30 lakh alcohol users, 30 lakh inhalant users, and 20 lakh cannabis users among children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years. These figures were highlighted by MoS B.L. Verma as underscoring the need for sustained prevention and treatment efforts targeting younger age groups.
What steps has the government taken to expand de-addiction infrastructure?
During 2024-25, 55 new District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) were approved in gap districts, and 21 additional DDACs were established in 2025-26. The Ministry has also launched the NMBA 2.0 Mobile Application to help citizens locate the nearest de-addiction centre, and has revised its Standard Operating Procedure to streamline fund releases to partner NGOs.
What is the NAPDDR and which schemes does it cover?
The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) is the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's comprehensive strategy for reducing drug demand, rehabilitation, and social justice. It covers partner NGO-implemented schemes and is complemented by the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), with a revised SOP introduced to reduce documentation requirements and improve fund-release efficiency.
