SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that 11 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are operational in Kashmir and nine in Jammu to provide treatment and rehabilitation services for drug addicts.
Responding to a starred question by MLA Mubarak Gul, the Minister termed drug abuse a serious societal issue and stressed the need for collective efforts to combat the menace in Jammu and Kashmir.
She stated that outpatient department (OPD) services are functional in all 20 districts, while inpatient department (IPD) services are available in all nine Government Medical Colleges (GMCs). Additionally, psychiatrists are deployed across all GMCs in the Union Territory to ensure specialised care.
Highlighting government initiatives, the Minister said 25 medical officers—13 from Kashmir and 12 from Jammu—have been trained by NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and posted in their respective districts to enhance de-addiction services. She added that surveillance has been strengthened through real-time data collection via Google Sheets to monitor trends and assess intervention impact.
Since the launch of the ‘Nasha Mukht Abhiyan’ in September 2022, new drug addiction cases have shown a decline, indicating improved detection and management. To combat drug abuse and trafficking, the government has implemented several policy measures, including the adoption of a Drug De-Addiction Policy and the establishment of state, divisional, and district-level monitoring committees.
The government has also set up a dedicated helpline, Tele MANAS, to assist individuals seeking treatment for drug addiction. In addition, awareness campaigns, including seminars, workshops, and community engagement programmes, are being conducted regularly in schools, colleges, and universities in coordination with district administrations, NGOs, and volunteers.
The Minister further announced the launch of “Najaath,” a joint initiative of the health department and J&K Bank, aimed at preventing and treating drug and tobacco addiction. Initially introduced in Jammu and Pulwama districts in November 2023, the programme focuses on raising awareness about addiction’s harmful effects and available treatment resources.
Several legislators, including Mubarak Gul, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, and Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, raised supplementary questions on the issue.
