Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council (JKMC) has issued fresh directives aimed at regulating privately owned de-addiction clinics in order to curb the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic substances in the Union Territory.
According to the public notice issued by JKMC the Council has taken serious cognizance of the misuse of privately owned de-addiction centres, raising concerns about the unregulated prescription and dispensation of Buprenorphine-Naloxone and other similar drugs.
Officials said such practices pose a direct threat to public health and safety, necessitating strict intervention.
“In the larger interest of public health, it has become imperative to regulate the practice relating to de-addiction treatment and the prescription/dispensation of Buprenorphine-Naloxone and other narcotic/psychotropic substances,” the notice reads.
The JKMC has now made it mandatory for any medical practitioner seeking Permanent Registration with the Council — specifically for the purpose of providing de-addiction treatment or prescribing, dispensing narcotic or psychotropic substances — to submit an affidavit.
The notification states that the affidavit, to be sworn before a Judicial Magistrate of First Class, must be in strict accordance with the format prescribed by the Council.
Officials added that this step is aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency among practitioners operating in the sensitive field of addiction treatment. “The misuse of de-addiction centres not only hampers recovery but also risks worsening the drug abuse crisis. These new measures are meant to protect patients and regulate medical practices,” said a senior health department officer.
The notification comes at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a surge in drug addiction cases, with government reports highlighting an alarming rise in substance abuse, particularly among youth.
Experts say proper regulation of de-addiction centers is essential to prevent these facilities from becoming hubs of misuse rather than recovery
