Views of the State Governments/Union Territories had been sought on regulatory changes relating to availability of opioids for palliative care and reasonable safeguards to address the concerns of the legitimate trade and industry dealing with narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. At present, there is no proposal under consideration to bring out new narcotic drugs within the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
A number of steps have been taken by the Government to counter the drug menace in general. As a part of legislative measures, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 has been enacted, which provides for stringent penalties for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. A number of agencies of both Central and State Governments have been empowered to enforce the provisions of the Act. To reduce supply of drugs, these enforcement agencies have adopted various measures, inter-alia including, (i) intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes, (ii) strict surveillance and enforcement at entry/exit points of the border (iii) strengthening of the intelligence system, and (iv) bilateral/multilateral cooperation with other countries for sharing of information on illicit trafficking. To reduce demand for drugs, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme, namely Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse to create awareness and educate people about the ill effects of drug abuse on the individual, family, workplace, and society at large.
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