New Delhi: The Centre’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) has reached more than 29.32 crore people across the country since its launch in August 2020, with over 11.20 crore youth and 7.92 crore women participating in awareness and community outreach programmes, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said on Thursday.
Launched under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the campaign was initially implemented in 272 vulnerable districts before being expanded nationwide. It aims to curb substance abuse through awareness, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and community participation.
According to the ministry, more than 21 lakh awareness and sensitisation programmes have been organised in schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions, involving students, teachers and youth volunteers in promoting a drug-free lifestyle.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar said the campaign has evolved into one of the country’s major social initiatives by bringing together the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), state governments, district administrations, police, NGOs, hospitals and educational institutions to combat drug abuse through coordinated action.
The ministry said treatment and rehabilitation services have also been expanded under NAPDDR through a nationwide network of 768 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), Community-based Peer-led Intervention Centres (CPLIs), Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs) and Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs). More than 28.29 lakh people have benefited from these services so far.
It added that the number of people seeking treatment for substance abuse has increased by 294%, rising from 2.08 lakh in 2020 to over 8.20 lakh in 2025, reflecting greater awareness and access to rehabilitation services.
The ministry’s Drug De-addiction Helpline (14446) has received more than 4.60 lakh calls, providing counselling, information and referrals for individuals and families affected by substance abuse. It also highlighted the launch of the NMBA App 2.0, which enables real-time reporting of awareness activities and offers citizen-focused features for states and partner organisations.
As part of the campaign, the Centre has encouraged citizens to take the Nasha Mukt Bharat Pledge and register as Nasha Mukti Mitras, a volunteer initiative aimed at spreading awareness, supporting people affected by addiction and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through community participation.
