Psychiatry – MCQ 4 – Most common substance abuse in India

Most common substance abuse in India is :
a) Tobacco
b) Cannabis
c) Alcohol
d) Heroin

Correct answer : a) Tobacco

Explanation:

Most common substance abuse in India – Tobacco (see statistics below)
Most common substance abuse in the world – ?? Probably tobacco (According to WHO statistics, there is an estimated 1.1 billion tobacco users in the world – corresponds to 1/3 of people above 15 years of age)
Most common illicit substance abuse in India – Cannabis (see statistics below)
Most common illicit substance abuse in the world – Cannabis (see statistics below)

National Household Survey of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in India  – Estimated users: (2001)
  • Tobacco – 162 million
  • Alcohol – 62 million
  • Cannabis – 9 million
  • Opiates – 2.5 lakh

Cannabis is by far the most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug. About 147 million people, 2.5% of the world population, consume cannabis (annual prevalence) compared with 0.2% consuming cocaine and 0.2% consuming opiates.


References :
Substance use disorder, Manual for physicians – published by National Drug Dependance Treatment Centre, AIIMS

 

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