Omkar Dattatray
Unfortunately, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under the growing menace of drug addiction and substance abuse. The situation has assumed alarming proportions and has become a matter of grave concern. In fact, J&K is fast becoming the capital of drug addiction in North India, and if timely steps are not taken to check and control this menace, the consequences may prove catastrophic, especially for the youth who are increasingly falling prey to drugs.
The growing number of drug addicts has become a burden on families as well as society. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to transform them into useful members of society. At the outset, it is important to understand what drug addiction actually means. Drug addiction can be defined as the uncontrolled use of drugs despite their harmful effects on the physical, mental, and overall well-being of individuals. It is not merely a personal issue but a serious social problem that requires collective action.
Society has a moral, social, and even legal responsibility to fight this menace so that people can lead healthy, purposeful, and meaningful lives. In recent years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an exponential increase in drug abuse, and the situation threatens to spiral out of control, causing immense damage to society.
According to official data shared by the Central Government in Parliament, the number of people affected by drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir has reached nearly 10 lakh, which is around 8 percent of the UT’s population. On August 4, 2023, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment informed Parliament that approximately 13.50 lakh drug users were estimated to be in Jammu and Kashmir, with the majority falling in the age group of 18 to 75 years.
According to another estimate, there were nearly 35 lakh drug addicts in J&K in 2024. More worrying is the fact that children and women are also increasingly becoming victims of substance abuse, putting their lives at great risk. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has reported that Jammu and Kashmir has around 60,000 drug addicts. In the last three years alone, there has reportedly been a 1500 percent increase in drug use.
In March 2023, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment stated that approximately one million individuals in the Union Territory were grappling with substance abuse. The ministry further revealed that over 50 percent of these individuals were addicted specifically to opioids. As per a survey carried out by the J&K administration last year, more than 52,000 individuals in Kashmir admitted to heroin use. The findings revealed that, on average, a user spent approximately Rs 88,000 per month to sustain the addiction.
According to doctors at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Srinagar, there has been a disturbing transition in drug usage patterns. There is now a shift away from medicinal opioids such as Codeine, SP, Tramadol, and Tapentadol towards more dangerous hardcore drugs, particularly intravenous heroin.
According to Dr. Yasir Rather, nearly 70 percent of drug users tested positive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) at IMHANS. A 2023 study conducted by the institute revealed that the prevalence of Hepatitis C among drug abusers in Kashmir stood at 72 percent. The institute reportedly receives nearly 150 drug addiction cases every day. It also found that over 33,000 syringes are being used daily for heroin injections.
On June 12, 2023, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President of the National Conference and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, stated that drug addiction and substance abuse had emerged as major threats to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing concern over the alarming rise in addiction cases, he described drug abuse as a widespread problem in the region and urged society to reflect seriously on the issue.
All this clearly indicates that drug addiction has assumed frightening proportions in J&K. More and more people, especially the youth, are falling victim to substance abuse, turning the lives of thousands of families into misery. The physical and psychological health of addicts has deteriorated badly, resulting in depression, anxiety, frustration, and emotional instability.
The government has established some rehabilitation centres where addicts are provided medical treatment and counselling services. However, there is an acute shortage of such centres, and there is an urgent need to establish more facilities, as the number of drug addicts continues to rise rapidly.
A pertinent question that haunts society is: who is responsible for the large-scale spread of drug addiction in J&K? Who is responsible for destroying the physical, mental, and social well-being of the people trapped in addiction?
There is an urgent need to fight this menace collectively. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is certainly making efforts to address the problem, and to be fair, it is doing commendable work in combating drug abuse in the UT. However, the government alone cannot successfully tackle this gigantic challenge. Society must come forward and actively participate in the fight against drugs.
Teachers, doctors, religious preachers, NGOs, social activists, NSS volunteers, and responsible citizens should extend full cooperation to the government. Civil society must recognise the gravity of the situation and take proactive steps to spread awareness about the dangers and consequences of drug addiction. At the same time, addicts should be helped and encouraged to quit drugs and rebuild their lives.
It is the collective responsibility of all of us to save society from falling into the deep abyss of addiction. Government initiatives must be supplemented by social and community efforts so that this menace can be effectively controlled. It is our moral and social duty to rescue the youth trapped in substance abuse and help them lead meaningful and dignified lives.
Let us all unite to fight and eliminate drug abuse so that our younger generation can live free from the curse of addiction. In short, the social and economic problem of drug addiction must be fought jointly so that this dangerous enemy of society is kept at bay and our homes remain safe, peaceful, and worth living in.
The Gulistan TV Network is also doing commendable work in spreading awareness and combating drug abuse through preventive and corrective measures. Let us all join hands to make Jammu and Kashmir a drug-free society where the youth can lead purposeful, happy, and contented lives without falling prey to drugs and substance abuse.
