BENGALURU: In 2023, the latest year for which data is available, at least 12 people died every week in India on average due to drug overdose, NCRB data reveals. That is nearly two deaths daily. Between 2019 and 2023, 3,290 deaths were attributed to the same cause, with the average for the five-year period remaining roughly the same as in 2023. What makes this data particularly sobering is what it doesn't capture. These figures represent only confirmed drug overdose deaths - they don't account for unreported cases and deaths misattributed to other causes. Also, NCRB doesn't specify if the overdose involved a narcotic substance or prescription drugs. Psychiatrists, clinicians and retired police officers TOI spoke to said there needs to be more clarity in the classification of drug overd

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