Over 2.6 crore Indians have ever used some psychoactive substance, and close to 60 lakh are drug dependent.[1] From metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Delhi to rural blocks, drugs in India are a pervasive issue that impacts families and young people.
Therefore, what drug is used the most in India? The data indicates that alcohol leads in prevalence, followed closely by cannabis and opioids such as heroin. [1] In adolescents, inhalants, methamphetamine, and nicotine products are some of the most sought-after drugs in India because they are inexpensive and readily available.
Recognising the most common drugs in India and their long-term consequences is the first step toward prevention. This article discusses the most popular drug in India, its dangers, and the importance of de-addiction centres.
Regional Trends of Drug Use in India
Patterns of drug use in India are quite regionally diverse:
- Northern States: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh states have reported high rates of opioid use, especially heroin and pharmaceutical opioids. Punjab itself is frequently described as the most drug-abuse-prone state, particularly among young people.[1]
- Northeastern States: Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland states have reported high levels of use of injectable drugs, mostly heroin, owing to close geographical proximity to the Golden Triangle (a large opium-producing region).[2]
- Metropolitan Areas: Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru register higher use of party drugs such as ecstasy and amphetamines, as well as cocaine, reflecting distinct urban usage patterns. [1]
- Other Regions: Alcohol use is prevalent in all regions, and rural and tribal regions also show heavy use.
Related Learning: Most Dangerous Drugs in India
Prevention and Management of Drug Abuse in India
India has taken a multi-pronged strategy for managing drug abuse:
- Policy Initiatives: The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) supports prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation through awareness campaigns, counselling, and de-addiction centres across the country. [3]
- Awareness Campaigns: Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) is to take its reach to every district, with a special focus on schools and vulnerable groups to create awareness and ensure early intervention.
- Treatment and Rehabilitation: Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAS), Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFS), and District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) provide medical and psychological care.
- Community Engagement: Peer interventions, outreach services, and helplines (e.g., 14446) are employed to assist individuals and families impacted by substance use
Top 10 Most Abused Drugs in India
Here are the most abused drugs in India:
1. Alcohol
Status: Widely abused substance in India.
Prevalence: More than 5.7 crore Indians consume alcohol harmfully, with approximately 2.9 crore classified as dependent. [1]
Impact: Causes liver disease, heart disease, and family breakdown.
Regional Insight: Increased use in Northeast, Kerala, Punjab, and urban metropolises.
2. Cannabis (Marijuana, Ganja, Charas, Bhang)
Status: Most popular illegal drug in India.
Prevalence: Approximately 2.3 crore users across the country. [1]
Forms: Smoked (ganja, charas) or eaten (bhang).
Regional Insight: High in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Bihar.
Legal Note: Bhang is culturally accepted in some places.
3. Heroin
Status: Most abused opioid in India.
Prevalence: More than 8.5 lakh dependent users. [1]
Use Pattern: Injected or smoked (brown sugar).
Regional Insight: Particularly widespread in Punjab, Manipur, Mizoram, and Delhi NCR.
Concern: Close association with HIV because of sharing needles.
4. Opium
Status: Traditional opioid, yet very popular.
Form: Also referred to as afeem; taken orally or smoked.
Regions: Prevalent in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
Cultural Factor: Occasionally used ritually in rural areas.
5. Pharmaceutical Opioids
(e.g., Fentanyl, Morphine, Codeine syrups, Buprenorphine, Dextropropoxyphene)
Status: Increasing at a fast rate in abuse.
Cause: Availability, over-prescription, and black-market sale have all contributed to rising pharmaceutical opioid misuse in India. [1]
At-Risk Users: Students, factory workers, and patients with chronic pain.
Concern: Often used with heroin, raising the risk of overdose.
6. Tobacco (Nicotine)
Forms: Smoked (cigarettes, bidis) and smokeless (gutkha, khaini, pan masala).
Prevalence: More than 26 crore users in India. [1]
Health Impact: Tobacco is the primary cause of preventable death in India, responsible for cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The WHO estimates tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally each year. [4]
Regional Insight: Pooled in Bihar, UP, Odisha, and tribal tracts.
7. Benzodiazepines
(e.g., Diazepam, Nitrazepam, Alprazolam, Zolpidem)
Use: Originally for anxiety/sleep disorder; now widely misused.
Risk: Can produce drowsiness, confusion, and amnesia, particularly when misused without supervision. [5]
Concern: Frequently combined with alcohol or opioids, significantly raising the risk of accidental overdose. [5]
Users: Usually observed in urban youth and the elderly.
8. Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth)
Status: Highly addictive stimulant, rising in cities.
Known As: "Ice" or "Glass."
Use Pattern: Smoked, snorted, or injected.
Risks: Heavy addiction, psychosis, and heart attack.
Emerging Zones: Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Goa nightlife culture.
9. Cocaine
Prevalence: Still very rare among others, but on the rise.
Users: Urban affluent youth, particularly from nightlife.
Impact: High addiction potential, nasal damage from snorting, and serious cardiac complications. [6]
10. Inhalants (Glue, Paint Thinner, Correction Fluid, Nail Polish Remover)
Users: Mainly children and teenagers.
Prevalence: More than 18 lakh users in India, of whom an estimated 4.6 lakh are children with heavy dependence. [1]
Regions: Prevalent in urban slums and street children populations.
Effect: Produce instant euphoria followed by serious organ and brain damage. Even a single session of inhalant use can be fatal. [7]
Additional Notes:
- Sedatives & Inhalants: Alarming due to increasing use among school-going adolescents.
- LSD & Party Drugs: Uncommon but found in metro party culture (Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa).
Regional Variation:
Punjab, Northeast – Opioids & Injectables
Urban Areas – Cocaine, Meth, Party Drugs
Rural/Tribal – Alcohol, Tobacco, Opium
