Receive Help for your Drug and Alcohol Dependency Problems: Dial 1800-11-0031

A national toll free helpline 1800-11-0031 has been set up by the government to help alcohol and drug dependent people to leave behind these health affecting habits. Thawwar Chand Gehlot, the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister launched this toll free helpline yesterday. At the launch ceremony of this helpline, the Union Minister said that his department has been taking several initiatives from time to time to mitigate social problems. Setting up of this national toll free helpline is a step that would go a long way in solving the mental and health issues faced by alcohol and drug dependent population of the country.

Prime Minister had expressed his pain over drug abuse in his address on radio

It was on14 December 2014 that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed the drug menace the increasing use of drugs and alcohol by youth in India in his nationally broadcast address on radio. In his address dubbed ‘Man Ki Baat’, Modi had said how pained he was to see and hear about these problems among the young people of the country. He had expressed his desire to see a day soon when youth of India would leave behind drug abuse and alcohol dependency. He had also said that his government would set up a national toll free helpline to provide all help and assistance to people who are desirous of leaving these bad habits.

Anyone can dial the number to receive help and assistance

During the launch ceremony, the Minister dialed the number to enquire about status of drug addiction and rehabilitation programs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. His Ministry is the nodal agency working in the field of drug abuse and rehabilitation of people addicted to alcohol and drugs. Technical support for setting up this helpline has been provided by TCIL, a government owned company. This helpline will remain active from Monday till Saturday and users can dial this number from 06:30 in the morning till 6:00 in the evening. The helpline would work on a 24X7 basis later on depending upon the number of calls received.

Government has shown determination to tackle social evils

With the setting up of this national toll free helpline, this government has shown its commitment to take on social problems. Alcohol and drug abuse has become a major challenge for policy makers. This tendency has increased significantly in Indian society at all levels in the last few decades and has the potential to affect the physical and mental health of our youth that constitute a large proportion of Indian population.