Substance use disorder in the hills of the Garhwal Himalayas: a call for attention

Background Substance use is a growing public health concern in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India.Method This study aims to analyze the trends of substance use and the treatment provided over the past year (2024–2025) at the Department of Psychiatry, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar (Garhwal).Finding A review of 858 outpatient records found alcohol dependence most common (67.1%), followed by opioid (16.4%), cannabis (8.62%), and nicotine dependence (7.81%). A positive correlation of 0.535 indicates a rise in patients with substance use as time progresses.Conclusion The findings underscore the immediate need for targeted public health strategies, increased community awareness, and the expansion of accessible de-addiction services in this rural Himalayan region.