On Bihar drug crisis, opposition chorus: Look beyond prohibition

Bihar’s drug problem appears to be expanding despite its liquor prohibition policy. Opposition leaders called for urgent action because narcotics cases, seizures and demand for treatment have all increased. They argued that prohibition alone cannot protect young people or address addiction’s social causes.

The article reports that NDPS cases rose from 697 in 2019 to 1,905 during January-May 2026. Narcotic tablet seizures climbed from 29,762 in 2022 to 9.29 lakh in the first five months of 2026. De-addiction beneficiaries rose from 1,487 in 2022-23 to 29,429 in 2024-25.

Leaders linked the crisis to poverty, weak employment opportunities, school-system pressures and the state’s location near trafficking routes. They urged stronger action against suppliers, alongside awareness, treatment and rehabilitation. The BJP supports continuing prohibition but says drug control requires a separate response.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, is India’s principal law against illegal narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It aims to prevent abuse and trafficking while controlling legitimate medical and scientific uses. The law matters because it gives authorities the framework to investigate, seize substances, arrest suspects and prosecute serious drug offences.

It covers substances such as opium, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs and psychotropic medicines. Offences can include cultivation, manufacture, possession, purchase, sale, transport, import, export, financing trafficking and allowing premises to be used for illegal drug activity. Penalties vary with the substance and quantity involved.

In Bihar, cases registered under the Act rose from 697 in 2019 to 1,905 in January-May 2026. The article uses these figures as a warning sign, but it does not detail individual prosecutions or sentencing outcomes.

The increases are sharp across enforcement and treatment measures. NDPS cases rose from 697 in 2019 to 1,905 during January-May 2026. This is nearly three times the 2019 total, although the periods are not identical. The figures show a rapidly growing enforcement burden.

Narcotic tablet seizures increased from 29,762 in 2022 to 9.29 lakh in January-May 2026. At de-addiction centres supported by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, beneficiaries rose from 1,487 in 2022-23 to 29,429 in 2024-25. The article describes this as an almost 20-fold increase.

Together, these figures point to more drugs being intercepted and more people seeking or receiving help. They do not alone measure the full size of addiction. Still, they explain why political leaders called for stronger prevention, policing, treatment and rehabilitation.

Prohibition can reduce access to legal alcohol, but it does not automatically remove the desire to consume intoxicants. If demand continues, people may seek substitutes through illegal markets. That can move consumption away from regulated products and toward substances that are cheaper, stronger or more dangerous.

Jan Suraaj leader Kishore Kumar Munna said wealthier consumers continued obtaining liquor, while poorer users turned to adulterated liquor and cheaper narcotics. He also argued that the higher price of illicit liquor pushed some people toward other substances. In his words, alcohol consumption had not stopped; its form had changed.

This explanation is a political argument, not a complete causal finding established by the figures. However, Bihar’s rising narcotics cases, tablet seizures and de-addiction numbers show why leaders want drug policy considered separately from liquor prohibition. They call for supply control, prevention and treatment together.

Borders and nearby states can create more routes for illegal supply. Bihar shares a border with Nepal and is close to Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The article notes that prohibition is not in force in those neighbouring states. This wider regional network may make it harder to prevent drugs from entering, moving through or being sold in Bihar.

RJD leader Jha warned that Bihar could surpass Punjab in the scale of its drug problem because of this location. The government identified Patna, Vaishali and around seven districts bordering Nepal as particularly affected areas. Authorities were monitoring routes used to transport narcotics.

The article does not provide seizure routes, border-by-border comparisons or proof that every neighbouring state supplies Bihar. It does show why officials are focusing on transport corridors, police action and the Special Task Force. Border monitoring must therefore operate alongside demand reduction and treatment.

Bihar’s stated response combines enforcement with public-health measures. The supply side targets traffickers and transport routes. The demand side tries to prevent use and help people who already face addiction. This matters because arrests and seizures alone cannot treat dependence, while treatment alone cannot stop illegal supply.

According to BJP spokesperson Niraj Kumar Sharma, authorities were monitoring narcotics routes and using the police and Special Task Force to disrupt supply. At the same time, they were running awareness programmes and de-addiction initiatives. LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Arun Bharti said the government was committed to action against traffickers, treatment, rehabilitation and awareness.

The article also reports rising beneficiaries at supported de-addiction centres, from 1,487 in 2022-23 to 29,429 in 2024-25. The government says prohibition will continue, but Sharma described drug control as requiring a response distinct from the liquor ban.

Drug-control policy works across several needs. Supply control targets traffickers, routes and illegal markets. Demand reduction uses awareness, education and prevention. Treatment helps people reduce or end dependence, while rehabilitation supports recovery. Public-health protection focuses on reducing harm to individuals, families and communities rather than relying only on punishment.

Bihar’s proposed approach reflects this balance. Authorities say they are using police and the Special Task Force against supply, while awareness programmes and de-addiction initiatives address demand. Leaders also call for treatment and rehabilitation. Munna linked substance abuse to poverty, limited employment and weaknesses in the school system, showing why social conditions matter.

The article records rising NDPS cases, tablet seizures and de-addiction beneficiaries. These trends suggest that enforcement must be matched with accessible care and prevention. The BJP insists prohibition should continue, while opposition leaders argue that drug addiction needs a distinct and broader response.