The highest prevalence of people with opioid use disorders in India is observed in the eastern parts of the country, while the largest numbers of people with opioid use disorders are found in north-western India (Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana) as well as in some of the central-western States (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh), the latest World Drug Report 2023 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) has found. The report also warns of cheap and easy synthetics changing drug markets with lethal results.
According to the report, traditionally, the prevalence of opiate use has been high in India’s north-eastern and north-western States. However, the high level now also found in Maharashtra appears linked to the increasing quantities of opiates being trafficked to India from Southwest Asia by sea.
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