Drug abuse emerges as major challenge in Kashmir: Div Com
Says addiction rate triples in 3.5 years, raises alarm over rising addiction among children and teenagers
Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Drug abuse has emerged as one of the biggest challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir, with the rate of addiction increasing nearly three times over the past three and a half years, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Garg said, “The addiction rate in Kashmir has increased almost threefold in the last three and a half years, which is a matter of serious concern.”
He stressed that the issue requires a collective response involving government agencies, families, educational institutions and society at large.
Available government and health department assessments indicate that over 13 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir are affected by substance abuse, forming a significant portion of the population.
Of this number, a large segment comprises children and adolescents, with estimates suggesting that over 1.5 lakh users fall in the 10 to 17 age group. Alarmingly, a substantial proportion of these minors are reported to be dependent on opioids and other high-risk substances.
Officials and medical experts say that de-addiction centres across the Valley are witnessing a steady rise in young patients, many of whom have been using drugs for several months or even years before seeking help. This points to early exposure and delayed intervention.
Doctors working in government hospitals say the pattern of substance abuse has changed over time. While cannabis was earlier more prevalent, there has been a sharp rise in the use of heroin, synthetic opioids and prescription medicines. Commonly abused substances include heroin, locally known as brown sugar, cannabis, sedatives, painkillers and cough syrups. Inhalants such as glue and correction fluid are also being increasingly used, particularly by very young children due to their low cost and easy access.
Health experts warn that addiction at a young age has severe and long-lasting consequences. Substance abuse during adolescence can impair brain development, affect memory and learning abilities, disrupt education and increase the risk of anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders later in life.
Mental health professionals attribute the growing crisis to multiple factors, including peer pressure, academic stress, unemployment, family issues, easy availability of drugs and lack of awareness. A clinical psychologist working with adolescents said many children begin experimenting casually, but soon slip into dependency before parents or teachers notice the warning signs.
Officials have reiterated that while action against drug trafficking continues, prevention, awareness and rehabilitation must be strengthened. They have called for expanded school counselling programmes, community outreach, parental vigilance and improved access to treatment facilities.
With addiction numbers rising at an alarming pace, experts warn that drug abuse has become a serious social and public health challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding urgent and sustained efforts to protect the younger generation from falling deeper into the crisis.
