A Message from Rev. Fr. Cajetan Menezes, Mentor and Director, Tripta Foundation
My dear brothers, sisters and fellow citizens,
Today, June 26th, marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – a day observed globally, and one that holds immense importance for us here in India, for every family, every community. As Director and Mentor of Tripta Foundation, it is both a solemn duty and a profound privilege to stand before you on this crucial day, to speak about a challenge that touches countless lives, and to share a message of hope and action.
This day is not merely about cold statistics or complex policies; it is, at its heart, about human lives, about the silent suffering of families, and about the very fabric of our society that is frayed by the menace of addiction. It is a day to reflect on the immense challenges we face, but more importantly, to reaffirm our collective resolve to build a drug-free India – a nation where every individual can thrive in dignity and health. The theme for this day for 2025 is The evidence is clear: invest in prevention.Break the cycle. It is a call to invest in community resilience and youth empowerment to create a drug-free society.
The Silent Epidemic: Understanding Drug Abuse in India
The menace of drug abuse casts a long, dark shadow over our nation, affecting millions of lives and threatening the very future of our society. National surveys paint a sobering picture: we now have around 10 crore people struggling with substance addiction in India, a worrying rise in narcotic consumption over the last eight years alone.
After alcohol, which affects an estimated 16 crore people aged 10-75 years, with many deeply dependent, cannabis and opioids are the most commonly used illicit substances. We see millions of individuals reporting cannabis use, and a concerning number, millions, are caught in the grip of opioids, including dangerous substances like heroin, as well as pharmaceutical opioids. The problem is particularly acute among our youth, with sadly, about one in ten drug abuse victims in India under the age of 20. Adolescence, specifically from 12 to 17 years, is identified as a high-risk phase for initiating substance use, with usage often peaking between 18 and 25 years. We also see a worrying trend of inhalant use among children, leaving nearly 20 lakh children in urgent need of help.
The problem is particularly acute among our youth, with sadly, about one in ten drug abuse victims in India under the age of 20. Adolescence, specifically from 12 to 17 years, is identified as a high-risk phase for initiating substance use, with usage often peaking between 18 and 25 years. We also see a worrying trend of inhalant use among children, leaving nearly 20 lakh children in urgent need of help.
Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of individuals inject drugs across the country. This practice is widespread, not confined to specific regions, and tragically, the sharing of needles is common, posing severe public health risks like HIV transmission.
While drug abuse is a pan-India issue, certain states unfortunately bear a heavier burden. In 2022, states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu reported the highest numbers of drug abuse cases, indicating concentrated areas of concern. This crisis is not merely a matter of individual choice; it is deeply intertwined with challenging socio-economic factors such as unemployment, pervasive poverty, violence, and a lack of employment prospects. These factors create a vicious cycle, trapping individuals and communities in a web of dependency and despair. The vulnerability of youth is significantly amplified by their socio-economic environment. If young people lack educational opportunities, face economic hardship, or are exposed to violence, they are more susceptible to initiating drug use as a coping mechanism, due to desperation, or through peer influence. This indicates a societal failure to provide protective factors, underscoring the need for prevention strategies that extend beyond mere awareness campaigns to address these underlying socio-economic disparities.
Adding to this complexity is India’s geographical vulnerability, positioned between the notorious Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle. This geopolitical reality contributes significantly to illicit drug trafficking, with a large majority of drugs, about seven out of ten, smuggled into India mainly through our sea routes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The observation that “easy availability” drives continued use takes on a deeper meaning when one considers that a significant portion, nearly two-thirds, of drug deals in India now happen on hidden online platforms, and sadly, about one in five pharmacies are involved in unlawful sales of prescription drugs. This means that the ease of access is no longer just about physical street-level availability but increasingly involves sophisticated digital networks and the diversion of legitimate pharmaceutical supply chains. This diversification makes the problem significantly harder to contain through traditional enforcement alone, necessitating a modern, tech-enabled, and multi-agency approach to supply reduction and regulation.
The observation that “easy availability” drives continued use takes on a deeper meaning when one considers that a significant portion, nearly two-thirds, of drug deals in India now happen on hidden online platforms, and sadly, about one in five pharmacies are involved in unlawful sales of prescription drugs.
The Unseen Burden: Families in the Shadow of Addiction
When an individual succumbs to addiction, it is never an isolated struggle. The devastating impact invariably casts a long, dark shadow over the entire family, transforming what should be a haven of support and love into a landscape of constant stress, fear, and uncertainty. It is, truly, a ‘family illness,’ affecting every member in profound ways.
The burden on families is immense and multi-layered – economic, psychological, and social. There’s the direct financial strain from increased expenses related to the addiction and often a loss of income from the addict. But beyond that, there are the invisible costs of canceled family events, shattered dreams, and a constant state of anxiety. Psychologically, family members experience profound distress, low self-confidence, and a pervasive sense of helplessness. Research even shows that spousal alcohol abuse significantly increases the risk of suicidal thoughts among women, underscoring the extreme psychological toll.
In our Indian society, it is often the woman – the wife or mother – who disproportionately bears the brunt of this suffering. They face not only the direct impact of the addiction, including a heightened risk of domestic violence, but also the crushing ‘burden of blame’ from society – blamed for the addiction, for hiding the issue, or for not getting timely treatment for their loved one. This deep-seated shame and embarrassment often force these women to build a ‘wall of silence’ around their struggles, leading to profound isolation and helplessness, cutting them off from vital support systems. The profound societal stigma is not just a social discomfort; it is a critical public health barrier that prevents families, particularly women, from seeking the help they desperately need. This fear of social ostracism and blame leads to secrecy and self-defeating behaviors like enabling, which inadvertently prolong the addiction.
In our Indian society, it is often the woman – the wife or mother – who disproportionately bears the brunt of this suffering. They face not only the direct impact of the addiction, including a heightened risk of domestic violence, but also the crushing ‘burden of blame’ from society – blamed for the addiction, for hiding the issue, or for not getting timely treatment for their loved one.
Children, too, are tragically affected, often forced to take on excessive responsibilities far beyond their years, losing their innocence and childhood in the process, as the addict is incapacitated and unable to fulfill their parental roles. These dynamics create a highly unstable and stressful home environment. Children exposed to such chronic stress and dysfunction may internalize these patterns, develop maladaptive coping strategies, and lack healthy role models for emotional regulation and problem-solving. This exposure can predispose them to their own struggles, including substance use, highlighting the critical importance of holistic, family-centered approaches that aim to heal the entire family unit and build resilience across generations.
In a misguided attempt to protect their loved one, or out of a desire to avoid confrontation and societal judgment, families can unknowingly fall into enabling behaviors. This might involve providing financial support, covering up for the addict’s actions, or downplaying the severity of the problem. This, tragically, creates a vicious cycle, sustaining rather than challenging the addict’s dependency. The deep-seated stigma associated with addiction in India often drives families to enable discreetly, worsening the situation over time by keeping the problem hidden and untreated.
Navigating the Labyrinth: Challenges in Demand and Harm Reduction
Despite stringent provisions like the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and significant national initiatives such as the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) with increased budgetary allocations, we face considerable hurdles in effective implementation on the ground. For instance, a 2023 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment analysis revealed that less than half of our targeted schools had fully adopted drug education curricula, indicating deep-seated organizational inefficiencies and a lack of standardization in delivery mechanisms. This stark contrast between increased funding and broad policy initiatives and their limited ground-level adoption indicates that the challenge lies less in what policies to formulate, and more in how to ensure their effective, standardized, and equitable implementation across a diverse and large country like India.
Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), vital for recovery, often operate far below their potential. A concerning Parliamentary Standing Committee report in 2023 highlighted that about seven out of ten of these centers were not functioning at full capacity, critically lacking essential staff such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and trained addiction counsellors – the very backbone of effective treatment. Compounding these challenges is the uneven spatial distribution of rehabilitation facilities across the country. NITI Aayog’s 2024 report points out that a vast majority, nearly eight out of ten, of our de-addiction centers are found in cities, leaving vast rural populations and remote communities critically underserved and without access to vital care. While the budget for the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) has seen incremental increases, this remains severely constrained when compared to international norms, such as the United States allocating over $40 billion annually on its drug control activities. This financial gap drastically hinders our ability to scale up services nationally and build robust infrastructure.
India has made commendable strides in harm reduction, particularly in preventing HIV among injecting drug users through the National AIDS Control Programme’s Targeted Interventions. These include providing access to clean needles and syringes, Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST), and peer-education for safer behaviors, covering more than eight out of ten individuals who inject drugs. However, these vital services often reach individuals far too late – typically after they’ve been injecting drugs for several years. This ‘not catching them young’ approach means risky behavioral patterns are already deeply established. Disturbingly, even after receiving services for an average of two years, about one in four injecting drug users continue to share injections, leading to practically no reduction in HIV, HBV, or HCV infections among this vulnerable group. This calls for a serious course correction in our harm reduction strategies, emphasizing earlier engagement, more intensive behavioral interventions, and tailored services to truly ensure zero sharing of injections and better health outcomes.
The landscape of drug abuse is constantly evolving, presenting new and acute threats. We are witnessing a dangerous influx of synthetic drugs such as Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids. These are not only highly potent but also alarmingly cheap, sometimes costing as little as ₹50 per dose, making them astonishingly accessible, especially to our youth, and fueling a dramatic increase in their seizure. Law enforcement agencies face unprecedented challenges with the emergence of darknet networks. As I mentioned, nearly two-thirds of all narcotic transactions in India are now conducted through end-to-end encrypted online platforms like Telegram and Signal, leveraging anonymity, cryptocurrency transactions, and secretive shipping practices. This significantly undermines traditional law enforcement efforts. Furthermore, the diversion of prescription drugs remains a significant concern, contributing to easy accessibility. Recent pharmacy raids in Uttar Pradesh revealed that about one in five pharmacies were found to be involved in unlawful sales of prescription drugs, indicating systemic regulatory failures and a pressing need to increase monitoring of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The landscape of drug abuse is constantly evolving, presenting new and acute threats. We are witnessing a dangerous influx of synthetic drugs such as Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids. These are not only highly potent but also alarmingly cheap, sometimes costing as little as ₹50 per dose, making them astonishingly accessible, especially to our youth, and fueling a dramatic increase in their seizure.
The rapid evolution of drug trafficking methods against the backdrop of fragmented and outdated enforcement systems suggests an ongoing challenge where law enforcement is constantly playing catch-up. As traditional physical routes are targeted, traffickers adapt to new, harder-to-detect methods that exploit technological advancements and regulatory loopholes. The current enforcement infrastructure, lacking integrated digital systems, is ill-equipped to combat these sophisticated, anonymous, and rapidly evolving threats. This necessitates a significant and urgent investment in advanced cyber-surveillance capabilities and stricter, digitally-enabled regulation of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Despite a significant increase in drug seizures since 2019, a critical lack of interoperable, digital monitoring systems severely impedes inter-agency coordination. Sadly, about three out of ten seized drugs are not tracked, with no data on their source or distribution networks, reflecting serious data management and collaboration loopholes.
Tripta Foundation: Three Years of Dedication, A Future of Hope
For the past three years, Tripta Foundation has been at the forefront of this critical battle against drug abuse, driven by a singular, unwavering vision: to bring healing, hope, and holistic recovery to individuals and families grappling with substance use disorders across India. It was this very vision, coupled with immense dedication and unwavering effort, that led to the creation of our Tripta Wellness Homes and Tripta Counselling Hubs, spearheaded by our dedicated team, including individuals with powerful lived experiences of recovery.
We understand that addiction is a complex challenge, requiring a multifaceted, empathetic, and deeply compassionate response. That is why our approach at Tripta Foundation is profoundly person-centered and holistic, addressing not just the substance use but the underlying causes and the overall well-being of the individual. Through our Tripta Wellness Homes, we provide safe, structured, and nurturing environments for individuals to embark on their journey of recovery. Our Tripta Counselling Hubs offer essential psychological guidance, emotional wellness support, and vital group therapy sessions, addressing not only the addiction but also co-occurring mental health needs such as anxiety, stress, and anger management.
Crucially, recognizing the need for wider reach and discreet access, we have embraced technology to extend our support, offering accessible Online Counselling sessions. This ensures that quality support is available to individuals and families even across geographical distances, overcoming barriers of location and stigma. A cornerstone of our philosophy, and a distinguishing feature of our work, is our Inclusive Family Systems Therapy. We firmly believe that true and lasting recovery involves healing the entire family unit. Our therapists work closely with families, helping them understand addiction, break cycles of enabling, and rebuild stronger, healthier relationships, fostering an environment conducive to sustained sobriety. The very structure and nature of our programs directly address several identified challenges in the broader Indian context, positioning Tripta as a proactive solution provider. Our Wellness Homes contribute to increasing treatment capacity, and our Counselling Hubs, staffed by trained therapists, help address critical personnel shortages. Online counselling directly mitigates the geographical disparity in access, and our Inclusive Family Systems Therapy directly tackles the “family illness” aspect and the enabling behaviors, a crucial missing piece in many conventional approaches.
Pioneering Progress: Tripta’s New Initiatives
Building on our three years of dedicated service, invaluable learning, and the profound impact we’ve witnessed, Tripta Foundation is now embarking on ambitious new initiatives to significantly expand our reach and deepen our impact across India. Our commitment to a drug-free society compels us to grow.
We are actively planning the establishment of new Counselling Centers and additional Treatment Centres in strategically identified, underserved regions. Our goal is to bridge the critical geographical gaps in care, ensuring that quality, compassionate support and comprehensive treatment are accessible to more individuals and families, especially those in rural and remote areas currently lacking adequate support. This directly addresses the concentration of existing facilities in urban areas and the call for the expansion of rehabilitation infrastructure.
Recognizing the rapidly evolving nature of the drug crisis, particularly with the rise of digital trafficking and the need for more efficient interventions, we are also making a significant commitment to integrating new technology into our services. This isn’t just about modernization; it’s about enhancing our capacity to save lives and foster sustainable recovery. This includes developing advanced digital platforms for enhanced outreach and support, making it easier for individuals to connect with us and access resources discreetly, overcoming barriers of stigma and distance. We are actively exploring the use of innovative tools for early detection, personalized recovery pathways, and secure digital systems to improve data management and inter-agency coordination, ensuring more efficient and effective treatment journeys for our clients. This directly responds to the need for modernized enforcement and improved data tracking identified in the broader national challenges.6
These planned expansions and technological integrations are not just about organizational growth; they are about building a more resilient, responsive, and compassionate ecosystem of care across India. They are about reaching those who feel isolated and forgotten, providing them with the tools, support, and hope they need for lasting recovery, and ultimately, contributing to a healthier, stronger nation.
A Call to Action: Towards a Drug-Free Society
As we observe this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, let us remember that the fight against addiction is a shared responsibility. It requires the unwavering commitment of individuals, the steadfast support of families, the collective action of communities, and the strategic efforts of institutions like ours.
We must foster an environment of empathy, not judgment, and work tirelessly to break the pervasive stigma that keeps so many in the shadows. Let us commit to supporting those struggling with addiction and their families, offering them a hand of compassion and the pathway to recovery.
The journey ahead is challenging, but it is not without hope. With every life touched, every family healed, and every community strengthened, we move closer to our vision of a drug-free India. Let us stand united, with courage and compassion, in this noble cause.
Thank you.
Fr. Cajetan Menezes