The Jammu and Kashmir state is the only part of the country which has been gifted by the almighty Allah with innumerable blessings, and one such precious blessing is the multitalented young and educated youth. Many multi talented young and educated youth of the Jammu and Kashmir have earned name and fame in various fields all across the world. The young educated youth have immense potential and talent and are a precious asset of our society. However, during the last two decades, there has been a sharp surge of social issues and evils in Jammu and Kashmir. The most burning social issues and evils the Jammu and Kashmir State is facing are drug abuse, suicides, domestic violence, acid attack, robbery, theft etc. Drug abuse issue is the most dangerous social issue and evil as it has consumed thousands of young educated youth and ruined thousands of families all across the state. International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on 26th June. The main aim of the day is to create awareness and educate people about the ill effects of drug abuse so that the world becomes free from the evil of drug abuse. Drug abusers population is fast increasing in the Kashmir valley. Despite the kashmir valley being the Muslim majority population, it has left the Punjab, Bihar states back in drug addiction and figures at the top of the list of drug addiction states. The young and educated youth in Kashmir valley particularly age group 13-30 fell prey to drug abuse substances like alcohol, cannabis, opium, hashish, ganja, brown sugar, heroin, correction fluid, marijuana, shoe polish, cocaine, opioid, painkillers and nicotine. Not only young educated males are involved in drug addiction but also the young educated females are involved. The Kashmir valley, so called by many famous names for a long time like paradise on the earth, Peer waer etc. has not remained the same now due to soaring graph of drug addicts. It is the good time now to rename the same famous names of the Kashmir valley by Drug waer instead of peer waer and paradise on earth etc. because many young and blooming youth in almost every village are involved in drug addiction due to easy accessibility of drug abuse substances. Majority of citizens in the valley are in deep sleep adding to a volcano that can explode gradually and engulf all the residents of the valley. The youth once addicted to drugs find it very difficult to quit drugs and feel unstable in absence of drug abuse substances. They can pay more money or even take extreme steps to get their drugs for abuse. It has now become a major challenge for the government authorities, social activists, NGOs etc. to tackle. As per a report published by the United Nation Drug Control Program ( UNDCP), around 70 thousand people are drug addicts alone in Kashmir division among whom approximately 31% are women. Kashmir valley being the conflict-ridden zone and unavoidable circumstances and turmoil from many times have lured young educated youth towards drug addiction in order to beat their anxiety, depression and stress. This is not only the reason behind drug addiction as there are other reasons that push and pull the young budding and multi talented youth towards drug addiction. The reasons are rising unemployment, failure in exams, family conflicts, marital disharmony, easy accessibility of drug abuse substances, financial problems at home, too much pocket money, social isolation, parental neglect and rejection, mental disturbances, friends’ pressure, desire for more work, curiosity, excitement and adventures. It is a matter of great concern that the young youth, which are assets of our society, are having drugs in their hands instead of books and pens. Some young youth feel no hesitation in taking drugs in broad daylight. It is pertinent to mention that recently, I visited Srinagar for some work, where I found three young youth between the age group of 20-25 taking drugs openly by the side of a car-parking site. It crystal clearly shows the alarming situation of drug abuse in the Kashmir valley. Drug abuse demands greater attention from all quarters. It causes serious consequences anxiety, depression, psychosis, damage vital organs like liver and kidneys, paranoia, shakes or tremors, bloodshot eyes, insomnia, increased risk of HIV and jaundice, importance, chromosomal abnormalities, defective offspring etc. It affects social, personal and professional relationships as well. Today it is my neighbours son or daughter involved in drug addiction and tomorrow it can be my son or daughter. Whoever is involved directly or indirectly in drug addiction, it is a Kashmiri or human being involved. It is the high time for all of us to unite together irrespective sex, caste, religion, region and defeat drug abuse in the society before situation goes out of our hands and control. If we fail to control it at the present alarming pace, the time will come very soon when it becomes very difficult for us to venture out of our homes and accordingly crimes, suicide rates, accidents, domestic violence, acid attacks, thefts, dacoits, burglary, trafficking, attacks on public will increase among the society.
Right direction, counseling and guidance among all young youth by experts, teachers, Doctors and psychosocial counselors’ can channelize their energy and can defeat negativity. Drug addicts need to be counseled and treated with love and affection instead of harassing, neglecting and looking down upon them. Teachers can also play a pivotal role in controlling drug abuse. They can conduct awareness programmes, debates, discussions, workshops in schools and can counsel and educate the youth about deadly effects of drug abuse. Supervision of children and their behavioural watch and check by parents can bring derailed and drug indulged youth on the right track. The Jammu and Kashmir police to some extent is playing an important role in tightening the noose around drug peddlers and smugglers in all districts of the Kashmir valley. Although Jammu and Kashmir police have booked hundreds of drug peddlers under NDPS Act, more needs to be done on their part. The Jammu and Kashmir police is well trained and skilled and they can control drug addiction within a few months if they can use their good intelligence and modern sophisticated technology in tracking and arresting drug peddlers and smugglers as they do in other social crimes. The people in all societies are equally responsible and have more duties and responsibilities. Sincere support and cooperation by all people to the government agencies can arrest and curb drug addiction in the valley. Promoting sports culture and ecosystem in the valley can act as a catalyst as it can catalyse positive change. Strengthening of sports infrastructure facilities for the youth of the valley at international standard can not only stay away youth from drugs but can also identify, nurture and train our youth as best sports persons for national and international level competitions as well. Although the government is trying better to eradicate drug menace in the Kashmir valley but still more needs to be done on their part to achieve a drug free Kashmir valley. Massive crackdowns and stringent punishments for drug peddlers and alcohol smugglers, establishment of more drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, Strengthening of existing laws against drug abuse and enacting more laws that are more stringent to deal drug smugglers and peddlers’ can curb the drug abuse in the Kashmir valley. Let’s hope that civil society, NGOs, social activists, religious speakers, mental health professionals, and educational institutions will join hands together with the concerned government agencies and fight vigorously against soaring drug abuse for a better and prosperous drug free valley.
( The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah, Budgam.Views are his own)
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