LEGAL REFORMS AND REHABILITATION FOR DRUG VICTIMS

The issue of drug abuse has evolved from being a criminal concern to a major public
health and social welfare challenge. In India, legal reforms have increasingly focused on
treating drug addicts as victims in need of help rather than as offenders deserving punishment.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, initially emphasized strict
penalties, but subsequent amendments have introduced provisions that promote rehabilitation
and decriminalization of personal consumption. Section 64A of the Act allows immunity from
prosecution for addicts volunteering for treatment, marking a significant shift toward a
reformative approach.