Abstract

Drug misuse is a major issue that affects the whole globe, and India is not exempt from it as it hinders the progress of our nation. It is evident from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's Annual Report 2018–19 that drug addiction is most common among Indian men between the ages of 15 and 35. Women make for up to 20% of injectable drug users, and some users are younger than 18. According to a research, 66% of female users admitted to exchanging drugs for sex jobs. The number of drug users in Punjab is rising quickly. The main finding of this study is that 2.8% of Indians said they had used cannabis products in the previous year. There is enough legislation in India to address drug usage, including the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. 2.8% of Indians take drugs in spite of all the prohibitions, not because the Act is flawed but rather because of a flaw in how the laws are being implemented. This is among the factors contributing to the nation's rising drug misuse rates. The legal and policy responses to drug usage in India are discussed in this study. This research examines drug misuse from an Indian viewpoint in an effort to identify contributing factors and potential remedies. Additionally, this research attempts to provide recommendations to the legislative body for the resolution of this issue.