Srinagar, Dec 1, KNT: The scale of drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir has reached alarming levels, with official data indicating that nearly 13.5 lakh people are affected by substance dependence across the Union Territory.
Records further show that around 1.68 lakh of those affected are minors, including school-going children. Health officials say this marks a serious public health concern as early exposure significantly increases long-term addiction risk.
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Among young users, over 95,000 are reported to be dependent on opioids, including heroin, which remains one of the most dangerous and highly addictive substances in circulation.
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Health department data also reveals that in the past three years alone, more than 25,000 individuals have been admitted through out-patient and in-patient services for de-addiction and rehabilitation, reflecting rapid growth in substance dependency cases across both Kashmir and Jammu regions.
To address the crisis, the government, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, had issued Standard Operating Procedures for Nasha Mukt Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies on Dec 20, 2023. The policy laid down a set of measurable conditions including zero drug peddling for six consecutive months, zero drug users in local areas, mandatory destruction of illicit crops, public helpline displays, and monthly awareness programmes.
However, compliance remains limited. Of more than 4,000 Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, only about 1,000 have met the conditions required for certification under the programme. Not a single Urban Local Body ward has received drug-free certification so far.
Although 32 de-addiction centres are operational across the Union Territory, health officials acknowledge that treatment facilities face strain due to the expanding number of admissions.
Experts warn that without stronger grassroots engagement, preventive education, and faster implementation of supervision mechanisms, the spread of substance abuse could accelerate further, particularly among adolescents. [KNT]
