Every addiction begins with ‘just once.’ For thousands, that one choice turns into a lifelong battle. The numbers emerging from the Drug Treatment Clinic at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), reveal a worrying trend. The data from the years 2023 to 2026 reveals that tobacco and alcohol are leading the chart, with 2,736 addicts and 2,385 addicts respectively. These are the two substances accounting for the overwhelming majority of addicts seeking treatment to junk the habit. According to the official data, 1,584 addicts sought treatment for substance abuse in 2023, which rose to 1,879 in 2024 before recording 1,848 cases in 2025. Although the total number dropped marginally in 2025, it remains significantly higher than in 2023, indicating that substance abuse continues to be a major public health concern.

 

The most striking trend is the steady rise in tobacco addiction, which has remained the highest category for all three years. Cases increased from 782 in 2023 to 959 in 2024, reaching 995 in 2025. Tobacco alone accounted for more than half of all the patients treated, making nicotine dependence the biggest addiction challenge. Alcohol addiction consistently ranked second over the three-year period. The number of patients stood at 744 in 2023, increased to 851 in 2024, and slightly declined to 790 in 2025. Together, tobacco and alcohol accounted for nearly 97 per cent of all de-addiction cases registered at GMCH during the three-year period, underscoring their continued dominance over other substances.

 

Dr Manish Thakre, Professor of Psychiatry and Nodal officer of Drug Treatment Centre, GMCH, stated that alcohol and tobacco continue to dominate as they have easy access. Cigarettes, bidis, chewing tobacco, and alcohol are readily available in almost every locality, making them socially acceptable and easily obtainable. This easy availability often leads to early initiation, especially among adolescents and young adults. Restricting access, strengthening enforcement of existing laws and creating greater awareness are essential to curb the rising burden of addiction.