Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Govt says over 4.6 lakh calls received on de-addiction helpline
The government of India has a free phone line called the de-addiction helpline.
People who need help because of drugs or alcohol can call it.
The person on the other end gives them advice and tells them where to get help.
More than 4.6 lakh people have called this helpline so far.
A minister named B L Verma told everyone about this in the Rajya Sabha, which is part of India's parliament.
The government also runs special centres that help people stop using drugs.
A big campaign called Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan works to make India free of drugs.
It was started in 2020 and now covers every district in the country.
Many volunteers, called Nasha Mukti Mitrs, help spread awareness in schools and colleges.
More than 4.6 lakh calls have been received on the National Toll-Free De-Addiction Helpline (14446) since its operationalisation.
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma disclosed this in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The government supports 145 District De-Addiction Centres, 344 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts, 76 Outreach and Drop In Centres, 45 Community-based Peer-led Interventions and 155 Addiction Treatment Facilities under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment on 15 August 2020 in 272 vulnerable districts, has been extended to all districts since August 2023.
More than 1.17 lakh volunteers have registered as Nasha Mukti Mitrs to support awareness generation on substance abuse prevention.
- Who
- Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma, on behalf of the Government of India
- What
- Announced that the National Toll-Free De-Addiction Helpline has received over 4.6 lakh calls and detailed the government's drug demand reduction efforts
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, as per the article's dateline
- Where
- Rajya Sabha, New Delhi
- Why
- To help people affected by substance use and their families access information, counselling, guidance and de-addiction facilities
- Helpline
- 14446 (National Toll-Free De-Addiction Helpline)
- Calls received
- More than 4.6 lakh
- Minister
- B L Verma, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment
- Venue
- Rajya Sabha, New Delhi
- District De-Addiction Centres
- 145
- Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts
- 344
- Nasha Mukti Mitrs registered
- Over 1.17 lakh
- NMBA launch
- 15 August 2020; extended to all districts since August 2023