Dry for a decade, Bihar hit by a new lethal high: Drugs & addicts, Pg5

Key Highlights:

• Bihar, a dry state for a decade, is experiencing a significant surge in drug trafficking and addiction.
• Cases under the National Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the first five months of 2026 (1,905) exceeded the total for 2022 (1,822).
• Seizures of illicit tablets rose sharply from 29,762 in 2022 to 9.29 lakh in the first five months of 2026.
• Beneficiaries at de-addiction centres in Bihar increased nearly 20-fold, from 1,487 (2022-23) to 29,429 (2024-25).
• The state government established the Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau in September 2025 and a narcotics cell within the Special Task Force (STF) in April 2025 to tackle the menace.
• Juvenile detentions under the NDPS Act saw a sharp rise, with 50 cases in 2024 compared to 11 in the preceding seven years (2016-2023).

Detailed Insights:

• Bihar's prohibition policy, enacted on April 5, 2016, inadvertently fostered a "second, cheaper market" for illicit drugs.
• The high cost of black-market liquor in Bihar makes drugs like adulterated brown sugar a more affordable option for prolonged intoxication.
• The COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent reverse migration are identified as catalysts, introducing harder substances and drug networks from other states into Bihar.
• Bihar's strategic location, bordering Nepal and connecting to the Northeast, makes it a significant transit route for narcotics, leading to increased local consumption.
• There is a notable shift from traditional plant-based drugs to easily concealable semi-synthetic and synthetic drugs, including heroin, pills, and injection vials.
• The "Death Triangle" (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) is a primary source for high-grade heroin, methamphetamine, and the emerging drug "kota," entering India via Northeastern states.
• Drug couriers, including women and families, exploit train routes and innovative concealment methods to transport smaller quantities, complicating detection efforts.
• Traffickers strategically divide consignments to remain below "commercial quantity" thresholds under the NDPS Act, impacting legal consequences.
• Widespread adulteration of drugs with various substances, including chalk powder and sugar, creates unpredictable and dangerous health risks for users.
• Patna consistently ranks high in NDPS Act cases, while new drug hotspots are emerging in districts like Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali.
• The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment supports de-addiction centres under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, aiming for a drug-free India by 2029.
• Experts emphasize that community participation and societal resistance are vital, alongside police action, to effectively counter the growing drug menace.
• A 2023 Parliamentary Standing Committee report highlighted significant drug use among Bihar's 10-17-year-olds, including cannabis, opioids, and inhalants.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Prohibition: A legal ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within a specific region.
• National Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985: Indian legislation that prohibits the production, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: A flagship campaign by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment focused on creating a drug-free India through awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• "Kota": A street term for a variant of raw heroin, typically inhaled, originating from the "Death Triangle" region.
• "Death Triangle": A geographical term referring to the region encompassing Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, known for illicit drug production and trafficking.