DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH IN INDIA: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NDPS ACT

Abstract

Currently, drug use by young adults and adolescents is one of the most pressing issues faced by society in India, creating extensive social and legal issues for public health and safety for people in India. The growth in the prevalence of using narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances among adolescents and young adults has impacted poor health, poorer relations among families, instability in society, and a country that does not develop as it otherwise could because of these issues. Contributing factors to the growing number of youths abusing substances include peer pressure, academic stress, unemployment, issues related to their mental health and the rising influence of social media, as well as changing lifestyles among youths in India. The growing accessibility of synthetic drugs, coupled with online networks where drugs are trafficked, has made the gap between drug abuse by youth and accessible treatment options greater than at any time in history.