On Bihar drug crisis, Opposition chorus: Look beyond prohibition, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Bihar is facing a significant drug crisis, with a sharp increase in narcotic tablet seizures from 29,762 in 2022 to 9.29 lakh in January-May 2026.
• Beneficiaries at de-addiction centres supported by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Bihar rose nearly 20-fold, from 1,487 in 2022-23 to 29,429 in 2024-25.
• Opposition parties attribute the rise in substance abuse to the state's Bihar Prohibition Policy, arguing it shifted consumption patterns.
• The ruling BJP maintains that the Bihar Prohibition Policy will continue, citing positive social outcomes and women's safety over revenue loss.
• The state government established the Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau in September 2025 to combat the drug problem.

Bihar's Drug Crisis.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The Bihar Prohibition Policy, in effect since 2016, has been criticized by the RJD for creating a nexus involving government and law enforcement.
• Critics suggest that the prohibition has led to a shift from alcohol to cheaper, more dangerous narcotics, impacting poorer sections disproportionately.
• The drug problem is linked to Bihar's geographical location, bordering Nepal and states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal where prohibition is not in force.
• The BJP acknowledges the seriousness of the drug problem and implements a two-pronged strategy: disrupting supply through police and Special Task Force operations, and reducing demand via awareness and de-addiction.
• Studies by Chanakya National Law University, IIM Ranchi, and The Lancet have been cited by the BJP to support the positive social impacts of the liquor prohibition.
• The Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau was formed by merging the Anti Narcotics Task Force with the state police's existing prohibition wing.
• The government is also promoting the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan and coordinating with central agencies to address substance abuse.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bihar Prohibition Policy: A state law banning the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol in Bihar.
• De-addiction Centres: Facilities providing medical and psychological support for individuals recovering from substance dependence.
• Narcotics Control Bureau: A central agency in India tasked with combating drug trafficking and abuse.
• Special Task Force: A specialized police unit often deployed for specific, high-priority law enforcement operations.