CPI(M) Demands Immediate National Action to Curb Drug Addiction Among Youth

Madurai: The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has raised a strong alarm over the growing menace of drug addiction among youngsters across the world and in India, stating that the issue demands urgent attention, collective effort, and concrete intervention. The Party highlighted that addiction not only harms individual health but also undermines education, employment, and social stability—ultimately derailing national development.
Referring to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drugs Report and World Health Organization (WHO) data, CPI(M) pointed out that approximately 270 million people aged 15-64 used illicit drugs globally in 2020, with youth being the most vulnerable demographic due to social alienation, peer pressure, and easy availability of substances.
The resolution underlined that India, home to a vast youth population, is confronting a major crisis. Data from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) show a sharp rise in the use of opioids, cannabis, and synthetic drugs. Around 3.1 lakh individuals in India suffer from drug addiction. The 2019 National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India found that 14.6% of individuals aged 10–19 use psychoactive substances.
The Party Congress stressed that the time has come for a comprehensive strategy encompassing prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and enforcement. The CPI(M) recommended a multi-pronged approach to deal with the issue. First, awareness campaigns must be implemented in schools, colleges, and communities to educate the youth on the risks of drug abuse. Second, access to quality treatment and rehabilitation centres must be improved, with a focus on evidence-based interventions and counselling. Third, law enforcement must be strengthened to crack down on the drug trade, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 must be implemented effectively.
Fourth, the Party emphasized the importance of involving parents, teachers, and local leaders in community-based initiatives that provide youngsters with positive alternatives and a supportive environment. Fifth, adequate funding must be allocated to support anti-drug programmes, improve treatment infrastructure, and encourage research.
Calling for a coordinated and sustained effort, the CPI(M) urged the Government of India to immediately develop and implement a National Action Plan to tackle the drug addiction crisis among the country’s youth. The Party asserted that only through collective action, political will, and cooperation between the government, civil society, and individuals can the country begin to mitigate the deep-rooted menace of drug abuse.
“The youth are the backbone of India’s future,” the CPI(M) said. “Drug addiction is robbing them of their potential and weakening the nation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”