Current Perspectives on Substance Use Disorders in Nepal

Nepal is a small nation situated between India and China in the lap of the Himalayas. Psychoactive substance use began to be seen as a social problem in Nepal in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. The burden of substance use disorder is high and resources are limited. The overarching responsibility for narcotics and substance use issues in Nepal is taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). In the recent times like other countries Nepal has not only been facing challenges of the use of the traditional psychoactive substance of abuse like alcohol, cannabis, opiates, etc., but also a surge of use of pharmaceutical opioids, amphetamine-type stimulants, and also behavioral addiction. The Narcotic Drugs Control Act, 1976, an act drafted almost five decades ago is still the main legal framework for drug control issues in Nepal and the act makes provision for prevention and treatment of drug use. In this chapter, we discuss about the historical aspects, epidemiology, policies and legislations, services, and recommendations for service development for the management of substance use disorder in Nepal.