The central government has come out with a 'National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances' (NDPS), under which the private sector companies will be allowed to produce alkaloids from opium. At present alkaloids from opium are produced only in Government Opium and Alkaloid Factories (GOAFs).

The policy recommends production of concentrate of poppy straw (CPS) in India by a company or body corporate. This would enable India to retain its status of a traditional supplier of opiate raw material (ORM) to the rest of world, while remaining competitive. The consumption of poppy straw by addicts will be gradually reduced and finally stopped in a time frame decided by the states.

On the illicit cultivation of poppy and cannabis, the policy emphasizes use of satellite imageries for detection of illicit crop and its subsequent eradication and development of alternate means of livelihood in respect of cultivators in pockets of traditional illicit cultivation. Non-intrusive methods of regulating the manufacture, trade and use of such psychotropic substances will be introduced, and emphasis will be laid on adequate access to morphine and other opioids necessary for palliative care, a strategy to address street peddlers of drugs, periodic surveys of drug abuse to gauge the extent, pattern and nature of drug abuse in the country, recognition of de-addiction centres.

There will be a time bound plan of action, detailing the steps to be taken by different ministries, departments and agencies, in response to the recommendations of the International Narcotics Control Board. The policy attempts to curb the menace of drug abuse and contains provisions for treatment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of victims of drug abuse.

Implementation of the provisions of the policy will lead to reduction of crime, improvement in public health and uplifting of the social milieu. The NDPS policy will serve as a guide to various ministries and organizations and re-assert India's commitment to combat the drug menace in a holistic manner.

According to Manoj Tongra, an expert in this field, the key features of the new policy include: The private companies may get license to manufacture codiene etc; psychotropic substance control via online tracking on pharma trade; tracking of opium cultivation via satellite in India, India is legal and safe producer of opium in world and medicinal value is high; and India have lowest consumption of morphine as potent analgesic and use in India need to be increased for cancer patients.