• As per the "Prevalence and Extent of Substance Use in India" survey, alcohol is the most commonly used psychoactive substance by Indians, with about 14.6% (16 crore people) in the 10-75 age group consuming liquor and the habit is 17 times higher in men when compared to women. This report has also included other substances like cannabis, opioids etc. 
• This survey is by launched by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

Important highlights:

• Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa having the highest prevalence of liquor use. 
• Consumption of substances in India has existed since centuries, traced earliest to 2000 BC.
• Use of alcohol has been linked to joyous occasions, celebrations and use of cannabis have been related to participation in religious festivals.
• Consumption results are related to devastating health crisis irrespective of age, gender and religion.
• Among those dependent on alcohol, one in 38 reported some form of treatment, while one in 180 reported getting in-patient treatment or hospitalisation.
• After alcohol, cannabis, and opioids are the next commonly-used substances in the country. 
• About 2.8 per cent of Indians (around 3.1 crores) reported having used some cannabis product in the last 12 months.
• At the national level, the most commonly used opioid is the heroine (used by 1.14 per cent of the people surveyed), followed by pharmaceutical opioids (used by 0.96 per cent of the people surveyed) and opium (used by 0.52 per cent of the people surveyed).
• About 1.08 per cent (around 1.18 crore) of Indians in the 10-75 age group use sedatives (non-medical, non-prescription use).
• At the national level, an estimated 4.6 lakh children and 18 lakh adults need help for inhaler use, the survey found.