Rising Substance Abuse Pushes Telangana to Rethink De-Addiction Care
Telangana pushes for more de-addiction centres to address the surge in substance abuse patients. Check out the list of prominent centres that will help in your Battle Against Addiction.
After a sharp rise in substance abuse cases exposed deep capacity gaps at the state’s primary treatment facility. The Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda, is planning a major expansion of De-Addiction centres across 36 government medical colleges in Telangana. The surge in patients underscores the need for accessible rehabilitation services across the state.
IMH at Breaking Point
The Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda, Telangana’s primary government facility for psychiatric and addiction care, is under mounting pressure as substance abuse cases surge. With only 20 dedicated de-addiction beds, the hospital recorded over 620 cases in December and nearly 700 in January alone, largely linked to alcohol dependence, exposing severe capacity and counselling gaps.
State Health Department Response
To ease pressure on IMH, the Telangana Health Department plans to decentralise care by setting up 10-bed de-addiction units in 36 government medical colleges statewide. The model aims to bring treatment closer to districts, reduce travel burdens, and expand IMH’s own capacity to 60 beds with enhanced counselling and diagnostic services.
Rising Demand Signals Public Health Challenge
The expansion comes amid rising demand for treatment across Telangana, with over 12,000 people enrolled in de-addiction programmes in 2024–25. Experts warn that detox alone is insufficient, stressing the need for sustained psychosocial care, follow-up, and integration with broader mental health services to prevent relapse.
De-addiction Centres Across Telangana
To improve access to treatment and reduce pressure on Hyderabad-based facilities, Telangana has expanded a network of government-run de-addiction centres across districts, with more units planned.
- Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda, Hyderabad
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Hyderabad (additional unit)
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Rangareddy District (two centres)
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Medchal–Malkajgiri
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Warangal Urban
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Karimnagar
- Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF), Karimnagar
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Khammam
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Nalgonda
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Adilabad
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Vikarabad
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri
- Government De-Addiction Centre, Bhadradri Kothagudem
Planned Expansion
- 10-bed de-addiction units proposed at 36 government medical colleges across Telangana, operating under a hub-and-spoke model anchored by IMH Erragadda.
Health officials say decentralising care will enable earlier intervention, reduce travel burdens for families, and integrate de-addiction with district-level mental health services.
Helpline and Official Information:
- Department of Health, Telangana: https://health.telangana.gov.in
(Readers are advised to call ahead, as services and bed availability may vary by centre.)
As Telangana expands its de-addiction infrastructure, the focus is increasingly on decentralised care, improved capacity at teaching hospitals, and more robust rehabilitation services for patients struggling with addiction.
