The Union government will carry out the National Drug Use Survey (NDUS) through 2026. About 20 lakh people across India will be surveyed to understand substance use and related disorders at State and district levels. This survey will document, for the first time, "indigenous forms of substance use and associated socio-economic and health concerns." Officials noted that some local substances, such as homemade alcohol, opium, and cannabis, are used with social and ritual acceptance. An official said, "Some observations suggest that such socially sanctioned use, which has continued for centuries, does not necessarily lead to addiction. This is something that needs closer examination." The previous survey in 2017-18 covered around 5 lakh people and showed alcohol as the most used substance -- with over 15 crore users, including about 30 lakh minors aged 10 to 17 years. Other substances included cannabis, opioids, sedatives, inhalants, and cocaine. The new survey will include detailed studies on substance use among prison inmates, school students, and college-goers for the first time. Past efforts could not cover these groups adequately. It will also test wastewater for drug use and look into new psychoactive substances. The official NDUS website said drug use is "dynamic," with patterns changing fast, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and conducted by AIIMS' National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, will finish by 2026. Results will be published in 2027. The survey sample includes 4.4 lakh households (about 17.6 lakh people aged 10-75) across 400 districts via household surveys. Plus, 2.1 lakh drug-dependent individuals in 350 districts will be surveyed using respondent-driven sampling, totaling nearly 20 lakh people. The study will also assess the effects of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a drug-free India campaign informed by the previous survey. It will help guide future national and state policies to reduce drug demand and harm.