NuLifeLineCare (Rehab)

Key takeaways

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• 14.6% of Indians aged 10–75 (about 16 crore people) currently use alcohol, according to the national survey run by AIIMS’s National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
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• About 1 in 3 alcohol users needs help for alcohol-related problems.
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• Only 1 in 38 people with alcohol dependence gets any treatment, and only 1 in 180 gets inpatient care.
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• Our calculation: for every 1,000 people with alcohol dependence in India, roughly 26 get any treatment and about 6 get inpatient care. Around 974 get none.
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• The survey estimates 57 million people need treatment for alcohol dependence, 7.2 million for cannabis and 6 million for opioids.
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• If you need help now: Tele-MANAS 14416 (free, 24x7) or the Nasha Mukt Bharat helpline 14446.
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Cite-ready line: “Roughly 26 of every 1,000 Indians with alcohol dependence receive any treatment, based on the 1-in-38 ratio reported in the AIIMS/NDDTC national survey.” (NuLifeLineCare Rehab analysis, 2026)

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India substance use statistics at a glance

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Source: NDDTC, AIIMS New Delhi, “Magnitude of Substance Use in India” (2019). The survey covered 186 districts, 2,00,111 households and 4,73,569 individuals.

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[Insert the infographic here: india-addiction-treatment-gap-infographic.png. Alt text: Infographic showing 14.6% of Indians use alcohol, 1 in 3 users needs help, and that of every 1,000 people with alcohol dependence only about 26 receive any treatment.]

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What “1 in 38” means in practice

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A ratio is easy to read past. Converting the survey’s two treatment ratios into a per-1,000 view (our arithmetic, not a figure published in the survey):

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• 1 in 38 is about 2.6%, or roughly 26 per 1,000 people with alcohol dependence receiving any treatment.
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• 1 in 180 is about 0.56%, or roughly 6 per 1,000 receiving inpatient care.
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• Adding the survey’s separate need estimates (57 + 7.2 + 6 + 4 million) gives about 74 million people in need of treatment across substances. This is a simple sum and probably overstates unique individuals, because some people use more than one substance.
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The survey’s own conclusion is that access to evidence-based treatment is grossly inadequate and needs to scale up.

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Which substances drive the need?

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Alcohol dominates: about one in five alcohol users is dependent, and every third user needs help. Cannabis comes next, then opioids, where heroin leads, followed by pharmaceutical opioids and opium. Punjab is among the states the survey flagged for the highest alcohol use, which matters for families in Uttarakhand, Delhi NCR and Punjab who travel to Dehradun for care.

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On the public-response side, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched in August 2020 and extended to all districts from 2023. In February 2026 it was reported to have reached over 25 crore people with awareness efforts, and it runs the 14446 helpline for primary counselling and referral.

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What evidence-based care looks like

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• Medically supervised detox. Withdrawal from alcohol and some sedatives can be medically dangerous, so stopping abruptly at home without supervision is not advised.
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• Psychiatric and psychological assessment for co-occurring depression, anxiety or trauma.
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• Structured therapy: cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), individual, group and family sessions, with peer-support models such as the 12-step fellowship.
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• A written aftercare and relapse-prevention plan, because recovery continues after discharge.
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Free checklist: 10 questions to ask before choosing a rehab centre

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1. Registration: Can you show your registration or licence, the issuing authority and the number? Verify it with that authority.
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2. Qualified staff: Who are the psychiatrist, doctor and clinical psychologist, and what are their registration numbers (medical council, Rehabilitation Council of India)?
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3. Detox safety: Is detox medically supervised, with a doctor available around the clock?
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4. Assessment: Is there a documented psychiatric and medical assessment before treatment starts?
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5. Individual plan: Will we receive a written, individual treatment plan?
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6. Dignity and consent: What is the policy on consent, restraint and complaints? Is physical or verbal coercion prohibited in writing?
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7. Fees in writing: What is included and what is extra (medicines, tests, pick-up)?
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8. Family role: How often can we visit or call, and is family therapy included?
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9. Aftercare: What follow-up happens after discharge, and for how long?
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10. Proof you can check: Can we speak to past families, and are the reviews verifiable?
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Visit in person where you can. A reputable centre welcomes these questions.

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Where to start if you are in Dehradun or Uttarakhand

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Families across Uttarakhand, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Delhi NCR and Punjab look for care in Dehradun because of its calm, residential settings. NuLifeLineCare Rehab (Maldevta Road, Seraki, Dehradun 248008) has run a residential programme since 2013, combining detox support, psychiatric review, CBT, DBT, family therapy and aftercare planning. Its alcohol addiction treatment programme and mental health service are described on its website. [Licence/registration no. and issuing authority.] Disclosure: this article is published by NuLifeLineCare.

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Comparing options? Our guide on how to find the best de-addiction treatment centres in Dehradun walks through what to compare.

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Frequently asked questions

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How many people in India need treatment for alcohol dependence?
\r\nThe AIIMS/NDDTC national survey estimates about 57 million people (5.2% of the population) need treatment for alcohol dependence.

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What is the treatment gap for alcohol dependence in India?
\r\nOnly about 1 in 38 people with alcohol dependence reports getting any treatment, and about 1 in 180 reports inpatient care.

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Is there a free helpline for addiction in India?
\r\nYes. Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1800-891-4416) offers free 24x7 tele-counselling in multiple languages, and the Ministry’s Nasha Mukt Bharat helpline is 14446.

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How do I know a rehab centre is legitimate?
\r\nAsk for registration documents, named qualified clinicians, a written treatment plan and written fees, then verify them independently. Use the checklist above.

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Methodology, sources and limits

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• Primary source: NDDTC, AIIMS New Delhi, “Magnitude of Substance Use in India” (2019), commissioned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, with fieldwork in 2018. Figures are as reported in the Ministry’s release and in press coverage by PTI/The Tribune and The Wire.
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• Helplines: Tele-MANAS (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched October 2022) and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan helpline 14446 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment).
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• The per-1,000 figures and the 74 million sum are NuLifeLineCare arithmetic on the published ratios, not survey outputs.
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• The survey is from 2018–19. We will update this page when newer national data is published.

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If you or someone you love needs help now

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• Tele-MANAS: 14416 or 1800-891-4416 (free, 24x7, multiple languages)
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• Nasha Mukt Bharat helpline: 14446
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• NuLifeLineCare Rehab, Dehradun: +91 8958305058
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• In a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call 112.
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About the author: Rajiv Panwar is Director at NuLifeLineCare Rehab, Dehradun, with 15 years in addiction recovery services. [Credentials and LinkedIn link.]