ü Alcohol & Drug Abuse is a malady that has plagued mankind for generations, spreading its tentacles mainly amongst the youth, and especially those of the underprivileged classes.

ü Over  200 million  people, or  5%  of the global population aged between 15 and 64, have used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months and this population includes individuals from almost every nation.

ü While many people are involved in the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, many more are affected by the devastating social and economic consequences of this problem.

ü At the micro level, Alcohol and Drug Abuse breed hatred, jealousy and violence, lowers self-image, causes financial stresses, and tears families apart. These manifest further at the macro level by destabilizing peace and harmony in the society and nation at large.

ü Studies on alcohol abuse in India indicated that more than  30% of males and less than  5%  of females are alcohol dependant in this country.

ü Recent studies also reveal that drug addiction on the streets of Kolkata and surrounding areas alone has afflicted more than 40,000 individuals.

ü In India, the problem of addiction is further aggravated by the lack of treatment and rehabilitation facilities.

ü Hard facts of the maladies of drug addiction:

• Drug addiction contributed to12.4% of all deaths worldwide in the year 2000.

• Years lost in life on account of Drug addiction is about 8.9%.

• If $ 1 is invested in Drug de-addiction treatment, we save $ 7 in Health & Social cost.

• The turnover of Drugs related substances in the world is around $ 500 billions.

• About 190 million people all over the world consume one kind of drug or the other.

• One million heroin addicts are registered in India, but the number may be higher.