Network for Peer led Drug and Alcohol Prevention

  A Call for Professional Associations and Civil Society to Lead Innovative Responses As the world observes the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme "World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses, " India has an opportunity to confront one of the most urgent yet under-discussed challenges in addiction care: building a humane, effective, and recovery-oriented system that extends beyond detoxification and institutional treatment. India's conversation on substance use often focuses on drugs, crime, law enforcement, and treatment. Far less attention is given to recovery, relapse prevention, family support, community reintegration, workforce development, and the role of people with lived experience. Yet these are precisely the areas where the future of addiction recovery will be decided. The Challenge Beyond Detoxification India's addiction response continues to be heavily centred on detoxification and...

Nada India highlights the ARPAN Project’s peer-led approach to addiction recovery, focusing on dignity, lived experience, and community care. The blog urges a shift from punitive inspections to collaborative learning, where peer educators and recovering individuals play a transformative role in building humane, evidence-based treatment systems. The journey of peer-led rehabilitation in India has taken a long road—from closed-door centers to heart-driven, community-owned healing spaces. At the core of this change lies ARPAN , a Nada India-supported initiative that champions peer-led drug rehabilitation centers guided by lived experience, compassion, and evidence-based practices. One of the biggest milestones in this journey has been the shift in how monitoring and inspections are conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) and its supporting units like the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD). 🌱 From Closed Doors to...

Nada India Foundation, with its commitment to peer-led interventions, is working to integrate the TB Mukt Bharat campaign into peer-led drug rehabilitation centers. This initiative acknowledges the double challenge faced by people living with addiction—where tobacco use is often underestimated compared to illicit drugs, despite its significant role in increasing vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB) infection. By bringing TB awareness, screening, and prevention strategies into these centers, Nada India aims to address the critical gap in health services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs). The approach focuses on: Peer-led TB Awareness: Educating individuals in rehabilitation about the risks of tobacco and drug use in TB transmission. Early Screening & Linkages: Ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment of TB among people in recovery. Tobacco & Drug Cessation Support: Strengthening rehabilitation programs to include integrated cessation strategies for both...

देश के बच्चों को बचाने के लिए, मैं अपना जान भी देने को तैयार हूँ। (I am ready to sacrifice my life to save the children of my country).  Sanjeebh NYIN Membe r  Gratitude is a powerful force that can transform lives, and today I find myself compelled to express my deepest appreciation. Emerging from the shadows of substance abuse, I owe my recovery to the unwavering support of my institute, dedicated teachers, and the transformative guidance of individuals like Manoj Sir, Ravis Sir, Sunil Sir, and others. This blog serves as a testament to my journey, filled with challenges, self-discovery, and the intervention of true messengers of hope. A Floating Situation: After completing a life-changing training program, I found myself adrift, battling OCD and seeking a purpose. It was then that fate intervened, and I encountered two remarkable individuals – Suneel Vastyavan  and Pallavi Maam.  Their guidance became the lighthouse that directed me towards a path of redemption. I...

In the dynamic landscape of drug demand reduction and prevention, the emergence of practicing social workers as leaders has transitioned from a rarity to the new norm. This paradigm shift is not only reshaping policies but also contributing significantly to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Late Dr. Hira Singh, a practicing social worker, exemplified this shift by leading the National Institute of Social Defence, a premier institution under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ministry itself has been a pioneer in bringing social work practitioners to the forefront, culminating in the current leadership of NISD being a practicing social worker. Navjyoti ,Delhi Police Foundation for Correction, De- addiction & Rehabilitation   under the leadership of Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, showcased the potential of practicing social workers in the field of drug rehabilitation. His pioneering efforts introduced the Acudetox movement nationwide , bringing tog...

The thing I liked about today's program is the personal experience shared by Vipan sir which I think was priceless. That how can we understand emotional health and mental status of drug addict and how can we deal that person according to that person.", observed a member of Young India Network for Good Health. A workshop "ABC - Addiction Battling Campaign" was organised by Project Hope Stone and PH&RD of AMSA India in collaboration with Nada India , on th e occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking 28th June'20. On the panel were Dr. Avinash DeSousa (Consultant Psychiatrist and Founder Trustee DeSousa Foundation Mumbai), Priyanka Varma (Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist Consultant at Holy Family hospital, Global Hospitals and the founder of the Thought Co.) and Mr. Vipan Sachdeva (Senior Counselor, Shanti Ratan Foundation) and Emotional CPR  practitioner   Dr. DeSousa burst many myths around drug addiction like cannabis...

Prof. T K Thomas*     “ The odds of psychotic disorder among daily cannabis users were 3.2 times higher than for never users, whereas the odds among users of high-potency cannabis were 1.6 times higher than never users .” I had interactions with a large number of patients and recovering drug addicts during my association with one of the leading drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers in Delhi. All of them were addicted to various substances and were multi drug users including alcohol, a legal drug in our country which actually is a depressant. While documenting their stories I found that in an overwhelming majority of cases their initiation into drugs started with what we call Ganja/ ‘Charas’ or marijuana, which at least a few experts consider as a “gateway” to addiction to more potent drugs. These substances known by different names have mood altering properties. Most of them tried or experimented with these drugs, deriv...

International Day against Drug abuse and Illicit trafficking   'theme "Health for Justice, Justice for Health"   was observed on 25th June 2019 by Vikalp (CCAA Trust)  a member  of Young India Network for Good health along with ten other peer led NGOs at Gaziabad Railway Station ( U.P),namely,  Pray for all, New Serve Nissan,JM Baksh Foundation,servhit Foundation,AACA Trust,Jeevan Uday Nasha Mukti Kendra,Aarti Foundations,Vijeta Seva Sansthan, A Real Life Foundation. These patient champions and peer led NGOs have been running Drug Rehabilitation centers in Sahibabad and Gaziabad area. Nada India and Young India Network for Good Health have been organizing   Non Communicable Disease prevention program and giving peer educators and counselors training in behavioral change counselling for the prevention of NCDs and its risk factors among drug using population. Mr.Abhilash T.Issac convener of Young India Network informed that Network has invol...

Prof. T.K.Thomas   Pradip and Harish speaking during Nada India Capacity Building workshop  There were ‘’patient champions” running peer led drug rehabilitation centers. Two such National Award winning entrepreneurs Pradip Goyal, who runs Vikalp in Ghaziabad and Harish Bhutani who runs Nav Vikalp in Jaipur explained the challenges of working with patients who have, besides addiction, cross cutting NCDs like, Tuberculosis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and mental health problems.... The annual World No Tobacco Day was observed on 31st May. The day is observed by the World Health Organization [WHO] and global partners as an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form. This year’s focus for the day was, “Tobacco and lung health”. Everyone knows how tobacco affects our lungs. The WHO release says, the campaign will increase awareness on, “the...