The beautiful valley of Kashmir known for its mesmerizing landscapes, hospitality and heavenly environment is facing many evils, particularly drug abuse. Drug abuse is the largest and most dangerous social evil prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir. About twelve lakh young boys and girls are involved in drug addiction ranging from cannabis to sedatives to inhaling substances. Approximately 5.4 lakh individuals are using opioids, 4.20 lakh using alcohol, 4 lakh consuming cannabis and 1.35 lakh inhaling substances. According to statistics compiled by the government in Jammu and Kashmir, in 2023, 11476 patients visited various drug de-addiction centers across J&K for seeking treatment and counselling to combat substance abuse. The rising cases of drug abuse and addiction in Jammu and Kashmir is a cause of concern. Drug addiction is consuming our youth at a high pace not only in urban areas but in rural areas as well. Drug addicts have ruined thousands of families and left them paralyzed, depressed and dismayed. Despite the Kashmir valley being the Muslim majority population, it has left Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi back in drug addiction and figures at the top of the list of drug addiction states. There are few states in India that have controlled drug addiction to some extent and a few states banned alcohol sale particularly Bihar. The young and educated youth in Kashmir valley particularly in the age group 13-30 are involved in drug abuse. The drug addicted youth use alcohol, cannabis, opium, hashish, ganja, brown sugar, heroin, benzodiazepines, correction fluid, marijuana, shoe polish, cocaine, opioid, painkillers, nicotine and inhalants. Consumption of hard drugs particularly heroin and opioid substances are increasing at a high pace in the Kashmir valley. When a youth takes drugs, it becomes very difficult for him to leave drugs as his brain demands more and 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. Why drug addiction has increased in Jammu and Kashmir, there are many factors responsible. The most common factors are unemployment, failure in exams, family conflicts, marital disharmony, and easy accessibility of drug abuse substances, financial problems at home, social isolation, parental neglect and rejection, availability of much pocket money, lack of awareness, poverty, mental disturbances, peer group pressure, unfilled aspirations, and corruption. The lingering impact of conflict, desire for more work, curiosity, excitement and adventures were some of the other factors fuelling this crisis. Drug addiction causes serious consequences to addicts like anxiety, depression, psychosis, damage vital organs like liver and kidneys, heart, 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. Many young youth abandon their studies resulting in a great loss of future opportunities and potential. Drug addiction has increased the crimes, suicide rates, accidents, domestic violence, acid attacks, thefts, dacoits, burglary, trafficking, and attacks in a society. Today it is my neighbour’s son or daughter involved in drug addiction and tomorrow it can be my son or daughter. Whosoever is involved directly or indirectly in drug addiction, it is a Kashmiri or human being involved. Collective and well-coordinated efforts are required at various levels to deal with the alarming rate of drug addiction. Not only the concerned departments but also everybody in a society has to play his or her role in saving the youth from falling into the trap of drug addiction.
The Jammu and Kashmir police is doing a commendable job for cracking down drug mafia and registering FIRs against drug peddlers and consumers. The zero tolerance policy of the government against drug addiction and arresting peddlers under PSA and attaching their properties is also an appreciable and welcome step. The zero tolerance approach has led to disrupting drug trade networks to more extent. The Jammu and Kashmir police has to undertake more concerted efforts to combat the drug menace in the Jammu and Kashmir valley. At the juncture, all conscious citizens particularly teachers, religious leaders, mental health professionals, civil society members’, NGOs’ should wage a joint war against drug addiction on a mission mode.
Education and awareness among youth about ill effects of drug addiction is the need of hour. Proper counselling and guidance of youth by experts, teachers, doctors and psychosocial counsellors’ can channelize their energy and can defeat their negativity. Drug addicts need treatment and counseling with love, affection, sympathy and empathy instead of harassing, neglecting and looking down upon in a society. Teachers can also play a pivotal role in combating drug menace. They can conduct awareness programmes, debates, discussions, workshops in schools and can counsel and educate the youth about deadly effects of drug abuse. Interviews’ with health care professionals, psychologists and social workers will provide expert perspectives on the best practices for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Addressing the drug abuse crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is not the responsibility of a single entity but it requires involvement of every member of a society. Involvement of local administration, religious leaders, civil society members and responsible citizens to lend their voices to this cause can play a pivotal role in controlling the menace. Supervision and vigilance of children, and their behavioural watch and check by parents and teachers can bring derailed and drug indulged youth on the right track. In the digital era, teachers, parents, religious speakers and social media influencers can bring a positive change by luring youth towards positivity. It is high time for all of us to wake up from our deep slumber and take this problem seriously before it is too late otherwise, we will lose our future assets as young youth in drug addiction. Identification of addicts in a society and taking them to drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers for counselling and treatment is a very important job. The Jammu and Kashmir police is doing a commendable job for cracking down drug mafia and registering FIRs against drug peddlers and consumers. The zero tolerance policy of the government against drug addiction and arresting peddlers under PSA and attaching their properties is also an appreciable and welcome step. The zero tolerance approach has led to disrupting drug trade networks to more extent. The Jammu and Kashmir police has to undertake more concerted efforts to combat the drug menace in the Jammu and Kashmir valley. At the juncture, all conscious citizens particularly teachers, religious leaders, mental health professionals, civil society members’, NGOs’ should wage a joint war against drug addiction on a mission mode. Each one has to play their role with responsibility. Every body’s involvement can make a difference for its eradication. Let us stand together, speak up, and take decisive action against drug abuse for the prosperous and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir where everybody thrives in peace and prosperity. 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 is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam .The views, opinions 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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