Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.

The war on drugs is more of a war on people especially the under-privileged. And the stigma and discrimination add to the complex drug problem..

According to UN data, only 1 in 8 people with drug dependence have access to appropriate treatment, and the utilisation of harm reduction services which are actually life saving, is very low.. This especially true for women, LGBTlQ+ and other marginalised section of the society as the services do not cater to their needs.

One of the most important step in this direction would be to treat the underlying Primary Psychiatric symptom/s and/or disorder/s in these patients most of who take substance as self medication.

-Dr. Priyanka Banokar Pande
Consultant Psychiatrist
Navi Mumbai and Mumbai