October Health – 2025 Report

Addiction in India

Leading population-level driver: socioeconomic stress, especially unemployment and financial insecurity. Persistent joblessness, debt, and the inability to meet family obligations create chronic stress that increases the risk of turning to addictive substances as a coping mechanism. Other contributing factors include easy access to alcohol and tobacco, rapid urbanization, and limited access to affordable mental health care with stigma around seeking help. Workplace implications: prioritize stress management, confidential employee support, and anti-stigma efforts; promote work‑life balance and provide access to mental health resources. If suitable, consider digital group sessions, assessments, and content from October to help employees cope with stress and reduce addiction risk.

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Addiction Prevalence
19.44%
Affected people
10,692,000

Impact on the people of India

Health effects

  • Sleep disruption and fatigue
  • Heightened anxiety, depression, and mood swings
  • Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and chest discomfort
  • Increased risk of cardiovascular/metabolic issues and liver/kidney stress (depending on substance)
  • Immune suppression and slower recovery from illness

Personal life effects

  • Strained relationships and trust issues
  • Declined work performance and financial strain
  • Parenting challenges and home safety concerns
  • Social withdrawal and isolation
  • Legal or safety risks (e.g., driving under the influence)

Coping strategies

  • Seek professional help and peer support; consider October digital group sessions and October assessments
  • Set clear boundaries and reduce enabling behaviors; communicate openly
  • Establish healthy routines: regular sleep, exercise, balanced meals
  • Practice mindfulness and stress management; minimize triggers and use healthier coping skills

When to seek urgent help

  • Severe distress, thoughts of self-harm, or intent to harm others
  • Sudden escalation of symptoms or dangerous behavior

India-focused resources

  • Dial 112 for emergencies
  • Kiran Mental Health Helpline: 1800-599-0019 (availability varies; check local listings)
  • Reach out to a licensed mental health professional or workplace EAP for immediate support

Impact on the India Economy

Economic impact of high addiction-related stress on an economy

  • Productivity and performance losses: increased absenteeism, presenteeism, lower concentration, more workplace accidents, and reduced overall output.
  • Health and social costs: higher healthcare expenses, treatment and rehabilitation costs, and greater disability or long-term care needs.
  • Labor market effects: higher turnover, longer recruitment cycles, training costs, and skill erosion among affected workers.
  • Crime and public safety costs: those with addictions may drive higher policing, legal, and justice system expenses, plus costs to employers from security incidents.
  • Macro-economic consequences: slower GDP growth, reduced tax revenue, and greater public welfare or unemployment support burdens.

Workplace actions that can help mitigate these effects include confidential counseling, employee assistance programs (EAPs), flexible work arrangements, and access to evidence-based digital programs (e.g., October) for assessment and group sessions. If you or someone you know is struggling, seeking professional help is important.

What can government do to assist?

  • Prevention and early intervention: implement age-appropriate school curricula, community programs, trauma-informed care, and family education; prioritize early screening and referral.

  • Accessible evidence-based treatment: expand pharmacotherapies (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) alongside psychosocial therapies; ensure affordable, stigma-free access; integrate with primary care.

  • Integrated care in primary health and telemedicine: routine substance-use screening in primary care, clear referral pathways, and scalable digital clinics to reach underserved areas.

  • Harm reduction and social safety nets: expand naloxone access, safe disposal, and where appropriate harm-reduction services; reduce financial barriers; strengthen social support for recovery (housing, employment).

  • Workforce capacity and data systems: train addiction medicine specialists and counselors; invest in ongoing supervision; build national data surveillance to monitor trends and outcomes; leverage digital tools.

  • Stigma reduction and community/workplace support: public campaigns to destigmatize addiction; involve families; implement workplace mental health policies and EAPs; offer digital group sessions and content (e.g., October) to scale support remotely.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

  • Confidential EAP and treatment access: Provide counseling, medical referrals, paid leave for treatment, and a structured return-to-work plan.

  • Manager training and anti-stigma culture: Educate managers to recognize addiction-related stress, respond with empathy, and run regular stigma-reduction campaigns.

  • Confidential screening and fast referral: Offer discreet assessments and quick referral pathways; consider using October for digital assessments and group sessions when appropriate.

  • Workplace design to reduce stress: Optimize workload and deadlines, offer flexible hours, ensure adequate breaks, promote sleep hygiene, and provide wellness resources (including mindfulness and physical activity programs).

  • Non-punitive policy and relapse support: Adopt a supportive, non-judgmental policy with clear relapse response and tailored return-to-work support.

  • Peer support, privacy, and compliance: Foster peer networks and inclusive culture while safeguarding privacy and ensuring compliance with Indian laws (e.g., Mental Healthcare Act 2017); monitor outcomes to improve programs.