Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. The drug problem has posed a serious threat to public health and to the safety and well‐being of humanity – particularly children, young people and their families. The abuse of alcohol and illicit and prescription drugs continues to be a major health problem internationally. In order to control the growing problem of substance abuse, governments around the world have taken punitive measures. Not only countries at individual level but the United Nations itself has held various conferences to discuss the issue at length and recommended multiple measures to deal with the problem. The judicial system in various countries has also acted proactively towards the betterment of society.

Through this paper an attempt has been made to understand the existing issue of substance abuse, analyze the persisting situation in the country and recommend punitive measures that can be taken to deal with the situation.

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