The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi stands as a premier institution in both the Indian and the global medical community. Established in 1956, it has consistently been ranked as the top medical college in India, holding the 1st position in various national rankings, including the National Institutional Ranking Framework. AIIMS is recognized internationally, ranking - 127th in the QS World University Rankings for Medicine in 2024, which underscores its significant contributions to medical education and research. AIIMS apart from being renowned for its academic excellence is accoladed for its extensive research initiatives and interdisciplinary approach to healthcare. The institution is recognized as an "Institute of National Importance," reflecting its critical role in shaping healthcare policies and practices in India.
The Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS has been a pioneer in child and adolescent mental health since establishing the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) in 1964 under Dr. Satyanand. Initially part of Pediatrics, CGC later transitioned to Psychiatry, becoming Delhi's first such clinic in a general hospital. Over time, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary set-up offering outpatient, inpatient, emergency and consultation services for children and adolescents. Its services range from diagnostic evaluations and psychological assessments to pharmacological treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, occupational therapy and family interventions. Over the years, through its various programs and researches, the child and adolescent mental health arena has carved its niche by developing various therapeutic approaches and has collaborated with various national and international organizations in policy planning and governance.
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The Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (DDTC), AIIMS, established in 1988, was renamed as the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) in 2003. NDDTC, a WHO collaborating centre, has developed care models, trained post-graduate students, shaped addiction policy, and collaborated on research, with extensive publications in addiction psychiatry. The Adolescent Drug Use Clinic (ADC) was established in 2004 under NDDTC to address the unique patterns of substance use and behavioral problems in adolescents, providing specialized care to meet their distinct challenges.
Despite the concerning prevalence of substance use among adolescents, awareness and help- seeking behaviors across the age group remain limited. The ADC addresses this gap by actively working towards the advocacy and developing interventions targeted for the street and school-based children. By bridging clinical care with community outreach, the ADC aims at promoting early identification and intervention for safeguarding the well-being of young individuals. It has made substantial policy-related contributions in collaboration with various stakeholders including ministries and organizations, viz., the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Women & Child Development and more by undertaking various national and state level research projects.