“Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India 2019” A Report by National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (N.D.D.T.C.) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.).
This nationwide addiction survey conducted in 2019 (a little dated but worth every detail and still relevant), covering over 5,600 individuals, reveals a deeply concerning and often overlooked reality: India is facing a silent addiction epidemic. With nearly 1 in 3 individuals admitting to substance use and an overwhelming 78% wanting to quit but lacking support systems, this report uncovers emotional, behavioral, and societal factors driving addiction. It remains a critical reference point for researchers, policymakers, and therapists even today.
The survey, covering over 5,600 individuals from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in India, reveals that alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis are the most abused substances. Many reported starting as early as age 16–18, with peer pressure and curiosity cited as common entry points.
What’s concerning is the normalization of these substances in social settings. Alcohol especially is not just common but often encouraged in social and corporate gatherings, making it harder for individuals to say no or seek help when it turns into dependency.
An eye-opening 70% of respondents cited emotional stress, anxiety, or loneliness as their main reasons for using substances. These aren’t people chasing a high—they’re escaping something inside.
Among working professionals, burnout, workplace stress, and marital challenges were the top emotional triggers. Among youth, relationship issues, exam pressure, and career uncertainty dominated.
This insight challenges the myth that addiction is purely a “willpower issue” and calls for deeper emotional interventions, not just detox.
A staggering 78% of those who admitted to substance use said they want to quit, but either:
Only 11% had ever reached out to a professional deaddiction service, and most didn’t follow through due to cost, stigma, or lack of privacy.
This gap is where tech-enabled, discreet, and affordable solutions like Veda’s Sober Life program can make a massive difference.
Traditionally, addiction has been more visible among men. However, this report throws light on a growing and often hidden demographic—urban women using substances as coping mechanisms.
Many women, especially in the 30–50 age group, reported using alcohol or sleeping pills to manage emotional burnout, loneliness, or high-pressure home and work environments.
Due to societal judgment, they often consume in secrecy and hesitate to reach out, making their addiction harder to detect and treat.
Beyond chemical substances, the report also touched on behavioral addictions. A noticeable number of respondents shared patterns of excessive phone use, binge-watching, and gaming, often replacing real-life emotional support with digital escapism.
These behaviors don’t show up on blood tests, but they’re just as destructive in terms of mental health and productivity.
Most people said what they really needed was not just medication or detox, but:
This is a critical gap in the way we currently approach deaddiction—treating the body but ignoring the emotional wounds that fuel the habit.
Among employed respondents, addiction often co-exists with stress and performance pressure. In many companies, high-functioning individuals are silently battling substance dependency.
The report found that over 60% of working professionals who used substances had never disclosed it to HR or management, citing fear of losing their jobs or being blacklisted.
Mental health and deaddiction need to become part of corporate wellness programs, not just weekend workshops or helpline numbers.
For those working in the mental health, public health, or behavioral science space, this report offers a rich dataset to act on:
We often think of addiction in extremes—rehab centers, interventions, or taboos. But addiction, as this report reveals, lives in everyday people with everyday problems.
And most of them don’t need a hospital—they need someone to talk to, a structured plan, and consistent, compassionate care.
Addiction in India is no longer just a “slum or celebrity” problem. It lives in homes, offices, colleges, and screens. It affects fathers, mothers, professionals, and teenagers. And most of them are silently struggling.
This report is more than data—it’s a mirror. It shows us where we’re failing and where we can act.
At Veda, in addition to our multiple deaddiction centres, we’ve designed Sober Life, a discreet, tech-enabled deaddiction service that is convenient and highly affordable. We believe healing is possible when science meets empathy.
If you’re a researcher, policymaker, or professional looking to understand India’s addiction problem, this is your roadmap.
