Fri Mar 21 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Kerala’s Drug Crisis: A State-Wide Emergency
**Thiruvananthapuram, March 21, 2025** – Kerala is grappling with an unprecedented surge in drug abuse, prompting urgent intervention from the state government and judiciary. A new analysis of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that Kerala recorded a staggering 30,000+ Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in 2023, dwarfing other states. This number, exceeding even those of traditionally high-burden states like Punjab and Maharashtra, marks a dramatic escalation from 5,695 cases in 2021.
The alarming trend continues into 2024, with over 27,701 cases recorded. This translates to a rate of 78 NDPS cases per 100,000 people—significantly higher than any other state. Punjab, the next highest, recorded only 30 cases per 100,000.
Unlike other states where drug abuse is concentrated in urban areas, the problem in Kerala is widespread. Every district in the state reported at least 500 NDPS cases in 2022. This contrasts sharply with states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, where a single district accounts for a significant majority of cases. The data also reveals that the vast majority (94%) of Kerala’s NDPS cases in 2022 involved drug possession, rather than trafficking.
The situation has prompted strong reactions. The Kerala High Court issued a warning regarding the drug mafia, while the state government launched the “Love-a-Thon” anti-drug campaign. The Chief Minister urged new Sub-Inspectors to prioritize the fight against drug trafficking, and the state assembly held a special session to address the crisis. The unusually high rate of drug possession, coupled with the lack of trafficking cases compared to other high-case states, presents a unique challenge for law enforcement in Kerala. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the driving forces behind this alarming increase in drug abuse across all of Kerala’s districts.
First Piper 