India

A case story by Professor Atul Ambekar of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Indians have been using opium for many centuries, as a recreational substance as well as a household medicine. Indeed, India is one of the largest producers of raw opium for medicinal purposes. 

In addition the unique geographical location of India – nestled between the high illicit opium producing regions (the ‘golden triangle’ and the ‘golden crescent’) – means that it is not surprising to find a high prevalence of illicit opioid use in India. 

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