SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment which is the Nodal Ministry for Drug Demand Reduction has formulated and launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) on 15th August 2020, in 272 districts across 32 State/Union Territories identified as most vulnerable in terms of usage of drugs in the country.
As per a survey carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir administration last year, over 52,000 individuals in Kashmir acknowledged their heroin usage.
The survey findings revealed that, on average, a user spent approximately 88,000 rupees ($1,063.54; £860) per month to sustain their drug habit.
Keeping in view the prevailing situation of Jammu and Kashmir, LG administration launched a campaign Nash Mukht Jammu and Kashmir, and LG has passed instructions to all the concerned agencies to leave no stone unturned to plug the smuggling routes and generate awareness by involving all the educational institutions.
He has already directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Anti-Narcotics Task Force to adopt “Zero Tolerance Policy” towards the menace and because of collective efforts of all the concerned agencies large number of drugs have been seized as indicative of the effectiveness of the policy.
But according to health experts, these instructions may not be followed at the ground level, there may be some loopholes, due to which drug addiction is increasing day by day and that is the reason the data has changed from one million to more than thirteen million in just three months.
In the year 2021 it was believed that 6 lakh people including youngsters have become drug addicts. This year in the month of April, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed that, an estimated 10 lakh residents in a population of 1.25 crore (or 8%) were drug addicts in J&K in 2019-20.
Just after three months on August 4,2023, a shocking data has been put before the Parliament, Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has informed the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha , that there are estimated 13.50 lakh drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and most of them are in the age group of 18 to 75 years.
It has laid stress on coordination among all the concerned agencies to control the trafficking, production and distribution of drugs.
In its report presented to both the Houses of the Parliament today, the Standing Committee comprising of 27 Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has mentioned the estimated number of current drug use among children aged 10-17 years and adults 18-75 years based on the projected population in 2018.
About 10-17 years age group, the Committee has mentioned that estimated 1,68,700 children are drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and they are taking Cannabis, Opioids, Sedatives, Cocaine, Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS), inhalants and Hallucinogens. Majority of them are using Opioids and inhalants while as others are habitual of taking Sedatives and Cannabis.
As far as 18-75 years age group is concerned, the Standing Committee has informed the Parliament that 11,80,000 adults are drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and majority of them are addicts of Opiods followed by Cannabis, Sedatives and Inhalants. With this, a total of 13,48,700 persons are drug users in Union Territory and number might be higher as these estimates are based on the projected population in 2018.
“Seven types of psychoactive substances viz Cannabis, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine Stimulants, Sedatives, Inhalants and Hallucinogens were found to be used by the victims, besides alcohol which is the most common psychoactive substance used by adults”, the Committee has mentioned in its report.
On being enquired about the steps being taken to control the drug menace after the introduction of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the Standing Committee has been informed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India that funds are being provided for identification, motivation, counseling, de-addiction, after care and rehabilitation of the drug users.
