At 3.1 mn users, India biggest opiate consumer

New Delhi : Around 3.1 million Indias illegally use opiate – an opium derivative – of which half use synthetic opiate, an international report released here said Tuesday.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report says that at $1.4 billion, India is also the biggest consumer market for opiate in South Asia.

Opiates are drugs containing opium or a derivative of opium, either natural or synthetic, and have a sedative effect. Opiates are also called opioids.

INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial organisation which monitors the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions.