Drug Addiction is consuming young and multi talented youth of Jammu and Kashmir at an alarming rate. As per the recent report of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are more than ten lakh youth involved in drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has left the Punjab state behind and stands at second position among the drug addiction states. Drug addiction possesses a severe threat to the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a major threat to the socio economic structure of the state. The Jammu and Kashmir once considered a safe place is now witnessing an unprecedented increase in drug addiction and crimes. The progress and development of any country depends on human and material resources. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is already blessed with these important resources but unfortunately, for the last one decade, our educated youth including both boys and girls are falling prey to drug addiction. What would be the future of our Jammu and Kashmir state when its educated youth are having drugs like heroin, charas, and brown sugar in hands instead of pen, copy, and computer mouse?. The crime rate has increased very much and the situation here is very concerning as killing of innocents, stabbing, knife attacks, theft, robbery, begging, suicides, divorce etc. have become very common in the state particularly in the Kashmir valley. The addiction has ruined the future of the educated youth who are our precious asset. When a youth takes drugs, it becomes very difficult for him to leave drugs as his brain demands more due to release of dopamine hormone. Addicted youth feel restless in absence of drugs and can do anything for the sake of drugs like murders of beastly nature, theft, robbery, burglary, begging, selling clothes, utensils, gold and other precious family assets. The family of an addict also suffers profoundly from such predicament. A drug addict loses his senses and he cannot control his tongue and body. Drugs affect almost all his organs particularly liver, kidney, brain, heart and stomach. He cannot differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad as drugs change his brain chemistry and cell to cell signaling. A drug addict can never become a good father, a good son, a good husband, a good friend and a good citizen. Drug addiction breaks family bonds and affects social, professional and personal relationships. The impact of drug addiction is not limited to an addict but it extends to his families’ and communities as well. There are multiple factors that have contributed to drug addiction proliferation in Jammu and Kashmir. Growing unemployment, poverty, lack of parental care and supervision, lack of moral education, exposure to violence, anxiety, stress and depression, bad company of friends, societal pressures, family disintegration, and easy accessibility of drugs are some of the key reasons behind the rising drug addiction in the state. Due to lack of parental care and supervision, our talented youth are falling prey to drug addiction. There are thousands of students who are leaving for the school regularly but do not attend the school regularly. Their careless parents are unaware what is happening with their children until they get seriously involved in drug addiction or commit any crime. Parents do not know that they are living in a society where children are susceptible to falling prey to drug addiction due to peer group pressure and increasing number of drug smugglers’ and peddlers. Earlier, imparting religious education to children was considered necessary in the Kashmir valley because it teaches moral values and principles to children. It teaches what is right and wrong, and what is good and bad. It teaches respect for parents and elders. Due to westernization and materialism, parents are not imparting necessary religious education to children and it results in negative consequences. All educational institutions are conducting seminars, debates, and discussions about drug addiction is a welcome and appreciable step but there is hardly any educational institution conducting drug addiction screening for students.
It is the responsibility of all conscious citizens particularly teachers, religious leaders, mental health professionals, civil society members’, NGOs’ to wage a joint war against drug addiction on mission mode. Each one has to play their role with responsibility. Let us hope that all conscious citizens join hands together and play their role practically at ground level for the drug free Jammu and Kashmir.
Identifying students involved in drug addiction and their proper guidance and counseling and admitting them in drug de-addiction centers although is a tough job but it is an achievement and a good step towards drug free society in contemporary times particularly in the Kashmir valley. Identification of drug addicts also by civilized citizens, considering them as their own sons and daughters and treating them with language of love instead of looking down upon and humiliating in a society will also act as a catalyst for reduction in the rising graph of drug addiction in the state. Effective treatment and rehabilitation services to drug addicts is another important measure to control drug abuse. Establishment and strengthening of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers at tehsil level for comprehensive and effective treatment, counselling, guidance and rehabilitation services to drug addicts can also prove very fruitful. The Jammu and Kashmir government should create more employment opportunities for the unemployed educated youth. They should absorb educated youth in government and private sectors through a transparent recruitment process on a fast track basis and it will definitely play a pivotal role in reducing rising drug addiction and crimes. Recruitment processes full of corruption, malpractices and unnecessary delays are also taking our youth towards addiction due to anxiety and depression. Vocational training, job placement assistance and community support to young educated youth will prevent youth from drug addiction. The recent step by the Jammu and Kashmir police by attaching movable and immovable properties utilized for drug trafficking is an appreciable step towards eradicating drug menace in Kashmir valley. The government officials’ should conduct necessary awareness programs/ campaigns among unemployed educated youth about the importance of different government schemes’ so that youth can take the advantages of ample government schemes for their welfare and society as well. Massive crack down on drug smugglers, peddlers, and strict enforcement of laws by enforcement agencies can also help in reducing rising drug addiction. Mere conducting awareness programs on drug addiction and uploading photos on social media platforms for fame and show will never eradicate drug menace in our society. It is the responsibility of all conscious citizens particularly teachers, religious leaders, mental health professionals, civil society members’, NGOs’ to wage a joint war against drug addiction on mission mode. Each one has to play their role with responsibility. Let us hope that all conscious citizens join hands together and play their role practically at ground level for the drug free Jammu and Kashmir.
(The author presently a teacher at Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam has mailed this article to “Kashmir Horizon” for publication in this newspaper. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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