Ahmedabad: Ironically for dry conditions but the data submitted in Rajya Sabha recently indicated that around 4.3% of the Gujarat population – accounting became around 19.53 lakh people – alcoholism.
Data, shared by Narayanaswamy, MOS (Social Justice & Empowerment), cited the numbers collected during the 2019 National Narcotics Usage Survey by AIIMS.
According to data, 4.3% of people in Gujarat have alcohol dependence.
This is even higher than Rajasthan 2.3%, Bihar 1% and Jammu & Kashmir 4%.
But the national average is 17.1%, mentioned in answers.
The answer also said about 1.46% of the Gujarat population (6.64 lakh) addicted opioid, 1.38% became sedative (6.28 lakh) and 0.8% to marijuana (3.64 lakh).
In addition, 36,000 (0.08%) inhalantic addiction.
There are no cocaine users, amphetamines and hallucinogens in Gujarat: SurveyMoreOver, around 36,000 (0.08%) inhalantic addiction.
There are no cocaine users, amphetamines and hallucinogens in Gujarat, according to the survey.
Overall, the survey pointed to around 8% of the total population (around 36.5 lakh) addicted to both alcohol or drugs.
Surveys do not include tobacco dependence.
The number is important to understand the extent to which addiction during the pandemic period, said city-based experts.
According to the majority of addiction and psychiatrists, the number in OPD for drug abuse and substances has doubled in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20.
Dr Rajendra Anand, Head of Canoria Hospital and a research center specializing in de-addiction, said that the number doubled due to anxiety and stress during and after locking.
“Even those who have avoided their habits returned to eat alcohol and drugs to alleviate stress,” he said.
“New patients also increase especially for alcohol.” Experts also refer to increased consumption of cough syrup and inhalant for more economically weaker parts.
Dr.
Ramachankar Yadav, a psychiatrist with a government hospital for mental health, said that six of every 10 hospitalized patients in the hospital over the past few months was fighting drugs or alcoholism.
“The majority of them already exist in several substances, but the pandemic increases the dosage and severity.
Solitude, frustration, and fear will be found by several factors,” he said.
Dr.
Pradip Vaghasiya, a de-addiction specialist and casting executive director, said that in the percentage of accuracy, they have reported a 20-25% increase in their daily OPD.
“I saw it as a good sign, because some addicted is seen by family members when they live near long.
Addiction often needs chronic proportions, and it is experienced by many people when without drugs or counseling, many return to old habits.
We see Some patients like that, “he said, adding that the first step to overcome this problem was to accept it.
“Relatives should not be matigatizing, because it always makes people more challenging.”