MASROOR AHMAD:
SRINAGAR: With the new government assuming office in J&K, one of the biggest challenges faced to it is the growing menace of drugs, especially the increasing use of heroin among the youth.
Despite a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, J&K is facing a severe health and social crisis, that threatens an entire generation of youth
In August this year, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 66,595 kg of drugs were seized in J&K over the past three years under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.Of this, 61,396 kg were opium-based drugs.It means 61.4 tonnes of opioids were seized in J&K in just three years.
The J&K Police recently said that 4536 persons had been arrested during a crackdown against illegal narcotic trade networks from the beginning of 2023 to July this year.
According to a recent report from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, J&K ranks among the states with the highest prevalence of opioid drug abuse in India. Various estimates put the number of people abusing various drugs in J&K between a staggering 10 lakh and 14 lakh.
An insightful report by the Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, GMC Srinagar, calculated the prevalence of substance dependence in Kashmir as 2.87 percent of the population.Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Center (DDTC) at SMHS Hospital incharge said, heroin crisis is a catastrophe in making.
He said one of their studies found that about seven out of every 10 people abusing heroin intravenously was infected with Hepatitis C, and an increasing number was getting Hepatitis B and HIV infections.
“It is an expensive treatment and by the time a person is diagnosed and put on treatment, they have already infected many more,” he said.
As per the figures of the IMHANS, 45 percent of people, studied as part of a research on pattern and prevalence of substance abuse in J&K (2021) were using injectable opioids.
Although the Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATF) have been started in almost all district hospitals of J&K, these facilities continue to remain open from 10 am to 4 pm, with kono provision for admitting a patient.In-patient facility is available only at two centres of GMC Srinagar in Kashmir. Addiction case does not report to the ATF directly. They often get into health issues and report to hospitals near them. A doctor needs to be vigilant and trained to identify a case of abuse and guide accordingly,” a senior psychiatrist working in a district-level ATF said.He said patients often arrive “late” for addiction treatment.
“In addition, urine-based drug analysis kits need to be more accessible and available across district hospitals,” he said.
Srinagar district administration admitted ,that 95 percent of the theft cases the Police investigated were found to be linked with drugs.As per the Police, “Drugs have fueled many other crimes in the UT.”An increase in petty crime, domestic violence, and mental health issues is linked to substance abuse.The rising number of overdose deaths has also been alarming, further exacerbating the situation.
A report, a few years ago, estimated that Rs 3.7 crore are spent on drugs in Srinagar and Anantnag districts alone. The economic implications of the drug crisis are far-reaching. With a large portion of the youth population ensnared by addiction, the region faces the grim possibility of a “lost generation,” one that is unable to contribute to the economic and social development of J&K.
The unemployment rate remains high, and with addiction siphoning off much of the potential workforce, the new government will be hard-pressed to revive economic activity in the region. While previous administrations have acknowledged the growing drug problem, the response needs intensification, with a focus on a holistic approach that combines healthcare, rehabilitation, and community outreach.
The new government has promised a more comprehensive strategy to tackle the drug menace and a war against drugs was part of the election manifesto of National Conference.The government is expected to collaborate with central authorities and international organisations to curb cross-border smuggling and provide necessary resources for the treatment of those already affected.