Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Alcohol is consumed the most among substances in Assam. According to the Magnitude of Substance Use in India report of 2019, the consumption of liquor use in the state was 8.8 per cent, with 2.27 per cent use of ganja, 2.91 per cent opium, 0.82 per cent sedatives, 1.24 per cent ATS, 0.2 per cent hallucinogens, etc.
According to a 2023 report on substance use, around 5.92 lakh adults in Assam use cannabis, 6.6 lakh use opioids, 6.74 lakh use sedatives, 2.25 lakh use cocaine, etc. Significantly, around 37,000 children of the 10-17 age group use cannabis, 26,000 use sedatives, and 1.4 lakh use opioids.
According to sources, the percentage of alcohol consumption in the state has gone up in the past five years. And it has been reflected in the rising excise revenue generation in the state. The state collected Rs 3,047 crore as excise revenue in 2021-22, Rs 3,980 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 4,798 crore in 2023-24.
Keeping in the same pace, the number of wine shops in the state is 1,836 and 1,060 bars. Apart from these, the state has 996 country liquor shops. The state budget has made an announcement that the government is considering the sale of IMFL through the country liquor shops as well.
According to official sources, apart from these, the number of people regularly injecting drugs has also gone up. This has become a big challenge for the government, as the practice increases the occurrences of HIV in the state. According to sources, the police in the state have literally waged a war against drugs, besides taking measures for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, 14 rehabilitation centres have been set up in 13 districts. The state government too has six rehabilitation centres. As many as 3,180 drug addicts have been rehabilitated after treatment in these centres. Anti-drug awareness programmes are also going on among students, struck drivers, transgender people, bar council lawyers, and the like.
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