SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE OF SUBSTANCE USE IN INDIA

The present communication focuses on a sociocultural perspective of su bstance use in a pluralistic and diverse culture. India has a history of use of plant products, viz., cannabis, opium, and home-brewed alcoh olic beverages, within a defined sociocultural framework over five mil lennium. Cross-sectional epidemiological studies in the field of subst ance use in different parts of India show that certain social groups a re more ''vulnerable'' to substance use. Caste, religion, and local cu stoms and traditions play a significant role in the choice of drugs, t heir consumption, and their control in rural/semiurban populations. Th e intercultural barriers are diminishing in urban populations, and eve n alien drugs like heroin have been introduced. The social and cultura l implications of the traditional vis-a-vis the altering drug use scen e are discussed at length.