Kerala has experienced a dramatic surge in drug abuse cases over the past three years, with Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases rising from 5,695 in 2021 to over 27,701 in 2024.
Kerala's case numbers significantly exceed those of other states, with Maharashtra recording only half as many cases in 2023, and Punjab a third of Kerala's total in 2024.
Kerala has a starkly higher case rate per capita, with 78 cases per lakh people, compared to 30 in Punjab and no other state exceeding 25.
Unlike other states where drug problems are concentrated in urban centers, all districts in Kerala recorded at least 500 NDPS Act cases in 2022.
In Kerala, 94% of NDPS Act cases are for possession, while only 6% are for trafficking, contrasting with states like Punjab where trafficking cases are more prevalent.
17 of the top 25 districts with the highest cases of drug possession are located in Kerala, whereas zero districts from Kerala are in the top 25 districts for drug trafficking.
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