Drug Abuse in Nepal

“Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All!”

With the above slogan, International Day against Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated on the 26th of June. The slogan emphasizes community support, healthcare access, and the need for global leadership in addressing drug abuse.

 Introduction to Drugs and Drug Abuse

Drugs are the chemical substances used to improve health, prevent disease and protect health. When drugs are taken in high amount and abnormal frequency without medical personal’s advice, prescription and self-administered for any non- medical reasons are said to be drug abuse. Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is a harmful use of substances that affect user’s body and mind function causing personal as well as societal issues.

Abuse of illegal substances is a silent crisis creating a major social and economic problem worldwide affecting millions of lives. It harms individual social life, physical health, mental health, creates risk for chronic diseases and tragically results in preventable deaths. Drug abuse is a widespread issue affecting general people, young girls and boys, athletes, political leaders to celebrities all around the world.

How drugs work

When drugs enter the brain through the blood, it affects the neurotransmitters such as Dopamine or Serotonin. These neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers between brain cells. Drugs usually increase, blocks or mimics neurotransmitters. Drugs of abuse generally floods dopamine which overstimulates system and produces euphoric effects leading users to repeat it.

Common types of abused drugs

1. Nicotine: Usually found in tobacco and cigarette which affects cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases
2. Cocaine: It is a short- acting stimulant which leads to take drug many times in a single session. It affects the respiratory, nervous system, and digestive system.
3. Heroin: It is a powerful opioid which produces euphoric effects and a feeling of relaxation. It slows down respiration.
4. Steroids: It is used to increase muscle mass and improve athletics performance. It is a risk for heart and liver disease, depression, and suicide.
5. Amphetamines: It has a euphoric effect producing powerful stimulants which risk seizures and heart problems.
6. Prescription Medication: Anti-anxiety sedatives, opioid pain relievers and ADHD stimulants are some abused medicines for improving work performance.
7. Inhalants: Inhalants are volatile substances which are sniffed which damage the heart, brain, lungs, and kidney.

Background : Drug abuse in Nepal

Nepal is the Southeast Asian land locked country (India to east, west and south and with China in north) with total area of 147,181 square km. The total population is 29,164,578 of which 14,253,551 (48.87%) are male whereas 14,911,027 (51.1%) are female. The sex ratio is 95.59 males per 100 females. About 61.96% of the total population is in the age group between 15-59 years (Census 2021).

Nepal ranks 145^th in Human Development Index (HDI) for 2025 with score 0.622. About 20.27% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2023 (KTM post). The budget for the annual financial plan of Rs. 1.96 trillion.

Nepal is graduating from Least Developed Country to a developing country status in November 2026. (UNDP, 2024)

Drug Abuse Statistics in world

There were about 296 million drug users in the world aged between 15-64 years and 0.6 million deaths due to psychoactive drug use (WHO). As per CNBC TV, Afghanistan is the biggest producer of opium and topmost drug trafficking country (90% of world’s illicit opium supply). Colombia is largest cocaine producer in world (80% of global supply). United States is the world’s top illicit drugs consumer. Large number of people in Iran are addicted to drugs and Russia have huge number of intravenous drug users due to which it has become fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in the world. Mexico, Laos, Nigeria, Philippines is also the major drug supplier of illicit drugs.

Statistics of Drug Abuse in Nepal

Ministry of Home Affairs along with other organizations conducts the Drugs Users Survey in every 5 years. According to the survey 2020, number of illicit drug users in Nepal is increasing by 5.06% every year. There were 1,56,821 drug users in 2024 among which about 94% are male whereas 6% are female. The majority of drug users (69.5%) are in the age group between 20-29 years. Bagmati Province (35.6%) accounts for the highest numbers of drug users whereas Karnali (1.4%) with the lowest. Abuse of illegal substance has been rising and major problem of Nepal since last four decades.

Cannabis (84.7%), Tranquilizers (73.1%) and Opiates (46.8%) are the most common abused drugs in Nepal. Peer pressure and recreation are the main causes of drug abuse in Nepal and root causes of suicide, road accidents, murders and cyber-crimes. There were 2,752 drug related cases registered by mid-January 2025. About 4,246 individuals were arrested for drug trafficking including 4093 Nepalese 145 Indians and other nationals. As per the Drug Control Section of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 21% of the prisoners in the country were convicted of drug related crimes, among which 50% were aged between 14-21 years.

According to the Nepal police, about 70% of the criminal cases in Nepal are somehow linked with drugs.

Drug trafficking in Nepal

About 80% of the drugs come from India and smuggled from countries like Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Guinea, Peru and Benin.

Common drugs in Nepal:

Cannabis(ganja) and Opiates (heroine, pain medicines and cough syrup) are most common drugs abused in Nepal. Some common abused drugs are:

1. Cannabis: Bhang, Charas, Ganja, Sulfa
2. Opiates: Opium, Heroine (brown sugar, smack)
   Cough syrup (corex, phensedyl)
   Pain relievers (darvon, morphine, buprenorphine, pentazocine, fortwin)
3. Tranquilizers: Diazepam, dormin, nitrazepam
4. Hallucinogens: LSD, acid, ketamin
5. Stimulants: Cocaine, amphetamines
6. Inhalants: Dendrite, paint thinner, petrol

 Tranquilizers, Opiates and Cannabis are highly abused by age group between 20-29 years. Opiates. Majority of drug user take drugs at least twice a day and spend Rs 100- Rs 200 per dose of drug. Main source of drugs is drug-users friend, mobile drug seller, medical store and from open Indian boarder sides. Injection and oral drug abuse in Nepal are the most common modes of drug intake.

Acts and law against Illegal drug trafficking in Nepal

Narcotic Drugs (control) Act 2033 B. S

Law related to drug trafficking in Nepal is governed by the Narcotic Drugs (control) Act, 2033 B.S. According to this act, Narcotic drugs are Cannabis or marijuana, medicinal cannabis or marijuana, opium, processed and medicinal opium. Plants and leaves of coca and any substances to be made by mixing opium and extract coca includes a mixture of salt. Any natural or synthetic narcotic drug or psychotropic substances and their salts as specified by the Government of Nepal.

Illegal Acts according to the Act

1. Cultivate, produce, prepare, prepare, purchase, sell, distribute, export or import, conduct any trafficking, store, or consume cannabis/marijuana
2. Cultivate opium or coca or produce opium or coca leaves or other narcotic drugs
3. Manufacture or prepare narcotic drugs
4. Sell or distribute narcotic drugs
5. Export or important narcotic drugs
6. Purchase, store, possess or conduct any trafficking of narcotic drugs
7. Consume narcotic drugs other than cannabis or marijuana.

Provision of Punishment

1. Anyone who consumes cannabis/marijuana shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to one month or with a fine of two thousand rupees.
2. Anyone who cultivates twenty -five cannabis/marijuana plants shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of three months or with a fine of three thousand rupees.
3. Anyone who cultivates more than twenty-five cannabis/marijuana plants shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of three years or with a fine from five thousand to twenty-five thousand rupees.
4. Anyone who consumes opium, coca or any other narcotic drugs made shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to ten thousand rupees.
5. Anyone who addicts any natural or synthetic narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their salt and other substances, as specified by the Government of Nepal by a notification published in Nepal Gazette, from time to time shall be punished with imprisonment for a term up to two months and with a fine up to two thousand rupees or both.
6. With imprisonment for a term from two years to ten years and with a fine from one hundred thousand rupees to twenty hundred thousand rupees for anyone who commits any prohibited acts other than those mentioned in Clause (5) above.

Major Causes of Drug abuse in Nepal

• Peer Pressure
• Curiosity and experiments
• Performance enhancement
• Emotional escape from stress, anxiety fear or depression

Complications of Drug Abuse in Nepal

• Overdose of opioids slows and stops breathing causing death
• Cancer
• Depression leading to suicidal thoughts or crimes
• HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
• Academic and career challenges
• Loss of social relationship

“Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All!”

Prevention

Planning and execution of the awareness campaigns in schools, communities and public areas especially focusing the teenagers and youth to discourage drug addiction throughout the year is most necessary. Involvement and family of the youth in awareness campaigns through different activities. Preventing supply of illegal drugs from border and enforcement of strict law can help protect and prevent our society from drug addiction.

Management and Treatment of Drug Addiction

It can be treated through therapy and medication. There are more than 6000 rehabilitation centers in Nepal. About 6000 youths are undergoing treatment in 249 rehabilitation centers in the country. Some of the therapy and treatments are given as;

1. Family therapy:

It is an approach where the entire family is supported and is involved in improving communication, helping resolve problems, decision making and encourage in making healthy relationships without any kind of discrimination for a victim of drug abuse in Nepal. This is considered very helpful especially for adolescents and young adults with problems of substance abuse and social as well as behavioral problems. This therapy helps the victim realize the feeling of belongingness and guides them towards socialization.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy:

This therapy helps to build skills to manage and control substance cravings, stress, and relapse. It also teaches people to recognize thoughts and situations that lead to drug use and control over their actions.

1. Motivational enhancement therapy:

This approach motivates people to change substance using behavior, especially those who are planning yet not planning to quit the addiction. Counselling is given through reflective listening and empathy.

1. Contingency management:

This therapy motivates drug users to reinforce positive behaviors through rewarding gift vouchers and real-life incentives.

  Recovery

Building a supportive environment to understand the victim of drug abuse in Nepal is one of the supports for recovery. Develop the coping mechanism through therapy, mindfulness activity, exercise and creativity. Identifying and learning to avoid triggers for drug abuse, practice self-care and adopt day to day healthy lifestyle can help recover along with frequent counselling.

Need for a quick action against Drug abuse in Nepal

Drug abuse is serious public health concern globally so in Nepal. Teenagers and young people are the most vulnerable to drug abuse. Among the total population of Nepal, about 20.8% are age group from 16-25 years. Reports say that out of total drug users, 69.5% are are age group between 20-29 years. Nepal is facing mental health crisis with rise in suicide, murder and crime. Sadly, Drug abuse increases the risk of various non- communicable and infectious disease such as, HIV, Hepatitis C, strokes, disability, cancer which is increasing rapidly creating a huge burden to a Nepali society. Because of drug addiction, youths do not want to continue their studies resulting in increased school and college dropout rates. This is also a huge contributing factor for illiteracy, lack of education, unemployment ultimately resulting one to commit suicide, crimes and murders in a society.

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 As per Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Target 3.5 emphasized strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. In order to meet the target, set by SDG 2030, there is an urgent need to strengthen the awareness campaign throughout the country on drug abuse and its prevention. From Federal to local level government, they must conduct assessment, design and plan, execution and evaluation of the programs related to prevent and control of drug abuse from grass root level community to main cities. So, Government along with INGOs and local NGOs should expand and continue frequent surveys and research on drug abuse, expand and strengthen treatment facilities at every local level so that no one is left behind from treatment. With collaboration and coordination, vocational training and peer support systems should be promoted to recover the individual’s right to live with dignity.

Conclusion

Drug addiction is now a pandemic. It is a global problem affecting the personal, professional and social life of people. All the reports and data of drug abuse and drug abuse related crimes and murders calls for national unity and coordination with national and international organization, multisectoral coordination and take immediate action to strengthen programs discouraging drug addiction, its prevention, treatment and recovery of all. Strict and urgent surveillance, regulation and monitoring are needed to control the smuggling of drugs across India- Nepal border.

There is need of raising awareness to break the chain of addiction from grass root level. Preventing every Nepalese from social crisis creating drug abuse and addiction is most important step for breaking the chain of addiction. Everyone should have play crucial role for to support those whose want to quit the drug and join hands for their effective treatment, better recovery and let them live their life with dignity. No hatred or discrimination can help the motivated drug users to recover but only acceptance, love, care and support can.

Therefore, joining hands to break the chain of drug abuse in Nepal through prevention, treatment and recovery is immediate urgency for making healthy, happy, prosperous and Drug-free Nepal.

By: Gatha Shahi, ESC Intern