Most common substance abused in India is:

IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

Alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians, as confirmed by the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India.
Approximately 14.6% of the population (around 16 crore people) use alcohol, making its prevalence far higher than any other substance.
Out of the 16 crore alcohol users, a substantial number (around 5.7 crore) are considered 'problem users,' indicating a high burden of alcohol-related harm.

Option B: Cannabis is the second most commonly abused substance, not the first. Its prevalence of use (2.8%) is significantly lower than that of alcohol (14.6%).
Option C: Bhang is an edible preparation of cannabis. As a specific form of cannabis, its usage is much lower than the overall prevalence of alcohol.
Option D: Ganja refers to the dried buds of the cannabis plant. Like bhang, it is a form of cannabis, and its prevalence is far below that of alcohol.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Epidemiology of Substance Abuse in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be proficient in screening for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in all clinical settings, as it is the most prevalent substance abuse issue in India and often co-occurs with other health problems.
Recognizing the signs of alcohol withdrawal (e.g., tremors, tachycardia, hypertension, agitation) is a critical nursing skill, as it can progress to a life-threatening medical emergency (delirium tremens).
What if? - What if a patient denies alcohol use but presents with unexplained tremors, anxiety, and nausea? The high prevalence of AUD should prompt the nurse to maintain a high index of suspicion for alcohol withdrawal and utilize a standardized screening tool like the CIWA-Ar scale for assessment.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: 'Most common,' 'substance abused,' and 'India.' This points to a question requiring knowledge of public health statistics or epidemiology.
Analyze the options. Recognize that 'Bhang' and 'Ganja' are specific forms of 'Cannabis.' This means the primary comparison is between the broad categories of 'Alcohol' and 'Cannabis.'
Recall or deduce from general knowledge that alcohol is a legal and widely consumed substance in India, whereas cannabis (in most forms) is not.
Based on this, infer that the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse is likely to be much higher than that of cannabis.
Select 'Alcohol' as it is supported by national survey data as the most widely used psychoactive substance in India.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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