The demand for de-addiction centres in India is shockingly high, with 6,995 people undergoing counselling in Telangana alone in 2023-24. An even more worrying statistic is that this number is increasing every year, with 6,174 people benefiting from these services in 2022-23, compared to 5,924 people in 2020-21, and a whopping 1,952 people in 2019-20. It seems that drug and alcohol addiction is an ongoing battle for many, with the need for counselling services constantly rising.
Lockdowns, job losses, and financial stress are undoubtedly causing tension in many households. Unfortunately, for many, this escalates to abuse and violence, particularly towards women and children. This dangerous trend has been identified in many countries - and India is no exception.