The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting India’s Addiction Crisis on World Drug Day 2025

June 26th, 2025, Mumbai, India —  Dr. Anjalika Atrey is a Mumbai-based Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in addiction &  trauma. She believes compassionate, evidence-based care can heal the brain and the human behind addiction.

World Drug Day on 26th June is officially known as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It was established by the United Nations in 1987 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse and to promote action against illegal drug trade. The day aims to strengthen efforts in creating a drug-free society through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. It also encourages individuals, communities, and governments to come together and support people struggling with addiction.

World Drug Day is observed each year, yet rarely confronted head-on. Addiction often remains an afterthought, a statistic to file away or a hushed mention over family dinners. But for Dr. Anjalika Atrey, a seasoned psychiatrist, it is not data she sees in her clinic; it is a story. A twitching hand. Racing thoughts soaked in panic. A heart too heavy with unspoken grief or hollowed by relentless emptiness. To her, addiction isn’t about substances; it’s about people trying desperately to feel okay in a world that often doesn’t make it easy.

Contrary to widespread belief, Dr. Anjalika Atrey emphasises that addiction is not a moral failure or lack of willpower. It is a chronic medical condition that disrupts brain chemistry. Substances like alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, opioids, and even certain prescription pills hijack the brain’s reward system, flooding it with dopamine and offering fleeting relief. But that comfort is short-lived. Over time, the brain adapts not to seek pleasure, but to maintain balance. Without the substance, the body spirals into withdrawal: tremors, insomnia, restlessness, and crippling anxiety. It is this unrelenting cycle of pain that she witnesses in her clinic, not a lifestyle choice, but a neurological trap, one that many fall into, without ever intending to.

 

The Hidden Epidemic in Everyday Substances

In India, addiction doesn’t always look like what we see in movies. It often comes in socially acceptable forms, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, prescription sedatives, and even inhalants. Over 160 million Indians consume alcohol. And yet, we speak of addiction in shame, not support.

Maharashtra stands among our top users with 7% of Indian cannabis users residing here; Uttar Pradesh leads at 20.8%, followed by Bihar (18.6%), Kerala (15.8%), and West Bengal (7.4%)

Take Mumbai as a case in point. Between January and April 2025, city police seized over 710 kilograms of contraband worth ₹36.74 crore. This included 686 kg of ganja, alongside heroin, cocaine, mephedrone, and other narcotics, resulting in 493 arrests. These aren’t isolated incidents. They reflect the scale and spread of an addiction crisis hiding in plain sight.

Yet, only a small fraction seek help. Why? Because stigma shouts louder than suffering. Because we’re quick to blame, but slow to understand. Behind every data point is a person struggling, often silently. And behind every person is a family, waiting in quiet desperation.

Understanding the Root Cause: Why People Turn to Drugs

No one wakes up wanting to be dependent. More often, they’re simply trying to get through one more sleepless night. One more panic attack. One more memory that hurts too much to carry. And so, they reach for something, anything, that offers relief. The brain learns: “This helps.” And that’s how dependency begins.

Soon, the body demands higher doses. The same relief now requires more. Dependency deepens not due to weakness, but because the brain has been rewired by survival instincts. That’s where psychiatric care comes in, not to judge, but to guide.

What Recovery Looks Like

Effective drug addiction treatment addresses both the brain and the emotional wounds beneath. Medications help regulate the brain’s chemistry, reduce cravings, and manage withdrawal symptoms. These aren’t sedatives, they’re tools for stability. They help give patients a fighting chance.

Therapy, on the other hand, focuses on the root issues: trauma, anxiety, grief, or deep-seated loneliness. In sessions, I work with clients to unpack their emotional baggage and find healthier coping mechanisms. Recovery isn’t just about quitting substances. It’s about rebuilding a life that no longer needs them.

How We Can Make a Difference

If you have a loved one grappling with drug addiction, don’t wait for “rock bottom.” Reach out. Learn about the nature of addiction. Listen without judgment. Encourage treatment early. Support their recovery without shame. And if you are struggling, know this: You are not alone. You are not broken. And you are certainly not beyond help.

Recovery is real. It doesn’t begin with perfection; it begins with the courage to ask for support.

This World Drug Day, let’s go beyond hashtags. Let’s replace silence with open conversations. Let’s stop seeing addiction as a crime and start recognising it as a call for help. Let’s respond not with judgment, but with care, science, and hope.

If you’re searching for guidance, start with someone who truly understands. Dr. Anjalika Atrey, Psychiatrist and De-Addiction Specialist, has helped countless individuals break free from the cycle of addiction and rebuild their lives with dignity.

If you or someone you love is struggling, don’t wait in silence; reach out at 8108823569, write to us at happinessbeyondwords@gmail.com, or visit www.thepsychiatrist.in. Hope and healing are just a conversation away.

You don’t have to do this alone. Your journey to recovery can start today.
Let’s choose compassion. Let’s choose courage. Let’s choose change.

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