Kathmandu, October 9

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has issued a circular to all local levels, directing them to form a ‘No Drug and Alcohol Control Awareness Committee’ in each ward as part of the nationwide campaign against drug and alcohol abuse being launched by the government.

Social Inclusion and Social Security Section of the MoFAGA issued a circular to this effect yesterday in response to a letter sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The campaign had come into effect in all local levels on October 1.

The ward-level committee consists of representatives of youths, students, women, civil society and police will maintain tight vigil to prevent production, smuggling, possession, sale, distribution and consumption of drugs and bootleg liquor in the concerned wards, and initiate legal action against the suspects. The country has a total of 753 local levels with 6,743 wards. The campaign will cover over 250 million population.

The campaign will focus on cities and villages grappling with drug and alcohol abuse, and raise awareness of social, economic and psychological impacts of drug and alcohol abuse, said the MoFAGA. A detailed plan of action for the campaign has already been provided to the local levels.

According to the MoHA, the campaign also aims to control drug and alcohol abuse related crimes, including domestic violence, rape and murder, rising in recent times. Drug and alcohol abuse perverts psycho-social behaviour of a person, making him/her inclined to commit crime.

The MoHA said the annual growth rate of drug users is 11.36 per cent. It estimates show that there were 156,009 drug abusers as of 2017. Production, sale and consumption of hooch is rife in both the urban and rural areas. Studies show such liquor may be laced with methanol which can send drinkers into coma and cause permanent blindness immediately.

Nepal STEPS Survey 2013 shows that 17.4 per cent (men 28 per cent, women 7.1 per cent) were found to be current drinkers, while 73.5 per cent (men 58 per cent, women 88.3 per cent) were lifetime abstainers.