by Nazira Maqbool
Kashmir’s drug addiction crisis demands compassion, professional treatment and sustained prevention. Tackling stigma, supporting distressed families and addressing youth mental health are essential to protecting another generation from loss.
Kashmir has always remained in the headlines, whether for its breathtaking beauty, decades of militancy, the abrogation of Article 370, or the circumstances that have shaped its history. Yet, amid the many challenges our society has endured, one of the most painful concerns today is the growing problem of drug addiction, a crisis silently entering homes, breaking families and threatening the future of our youth.
Outsiders sometimes describe Kashmiris as a people cursed with suffering. But we, too, have our blessings, and our youth are among the greatest of them. They carry our hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the painful reality of losing young lives to drugs and addiction. Having already seen generations affected by violence, can we afford to lose another generation to a crisis that demands our immediate attention?
Behind every story of addiction lies a human reality that society often fails to understand. People are quick to blame parents, question their upbringing and condemn those struggling with substance use. But how often do we pause to understand the pain that may lie beneath the surface?
For decades, Kashmir has witnessed loss, uncertainty and circumstances that have made grieving difficult for countless families. Some people continue to carry emotional wounds long after the events that caused them have passed. For some, the loss of loved ones leaves an emptiness they struggle to fill. When emotional pain remains unaddressed and support is difficult to find, some may turn to substances in search of temporary escape.
This does not explain every case of addiction, but it reminds us that behind some struggles may be a person desperately trying to cope with pain. As circumstances change and everyday life gradually returns to normal, we must not forget those who are still bleeding within. We must reach out to the grieving, the isolated and the emotionally vulnerable before escape turns into dependence. They do not need our condemnation; they need understanding, professional support and a chance to heal.
The suffering of families is equally heartbreaking. We often hear stories of people whose lives have changed drastically because of addiction, but how often do we speak about the parents who raised them with unconditional love and countless hopes?
Imagine elderly parents going from place to place, seeking help and praying that one day their child will return to the life they once knew. A child who was expected to support them in their old age may now be struggling with a condition that has disrupted the entire family. Their days become filled with uncertainty, their nights with worry, and their hopes remain caught between despair and the possibility of recovery.
Do these parents deserve to suffer in silence? Should their love be repaid with social humiliation and endless blame? Addiction affects more than one individual; it can place an immense emotional and financial burden on everyone who cares for them. Families need support, guidance and access to treatment, not another reason to hide their suffering.
Another deeply concerning aspect is the involvement of young girls in substance use. In a society where a woman’s character is often judged harshly, families may fear that seeking help will expose their daughters to humiliation and lasting social stigma. Mothers may suffer silently, unable to express their fears or approach others for support because they are afraid of how their daughters will be treated.
A girl’s dignity should never be treated like a spotless white cover that society believes can be permanently stained by a single mistake or struggle. Young women facing addiction deserve the same compassion, confidentiality and opportunities for recovery as anyone else. Their families should not have to choose between seeking help and protecting their daughters from public judgment. We cannot claim to care about our daughters while allowing stigma to prevent them from receiving the help they need.
Academic pressure is another concern that deserves serious attention. The intense competition surrounding examinations such as NEET, the fear of failure, parental expectations and constant comparisons can leave students emotionally overwhelmed. A disappointing result should never make a young person feel that their future has ended. Parents must understand that their children need reassurance as much as direction, while educational institutions must recognise that nurturing mental well-being is as important as academic achievement.
Our response to this crisis must move beyond occasional awareness programmes and banners displayed for a day. Awareness must reach the places where young minds are shaped: schools, colleges, universities and coaching academies. Regular sessions led by qualified professionals, informative visual displays explaining the harms of substance use, accessible counselling and confidential referral services should become part of a sustained effort. Non-governmental organisations, healthcare institutions, community groups and the administration must work together to strengthen prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
We must also challenge the stigma that prevents families from speaking openly. Those involved in drug trafficking must be held accountable, while people struggling with addiction must be offered opportunities to recover and rebuild their lives. Compassion does not mean ignoring the crisis; it means responding to it with wisdom and humanity.
Kashmir has already endured too much loss. We cannot change the suffering of the past, but we can decide how we respond to the pain of the present.
Let us come forward and join initiatives that protect vulnerable young people and support families struggling behind closed doors. Let our organisations reach the homes where parents are losing hope, the students who feel trapped by expectations, and the young people who believe they have nowhere left to turn.
Let us not break another generation. Let us save our youth, stand beside suffering families and help heal a Kashmir that is still bleeding.
(The writer is a BA (Economics) student from Cluster University, Srinagar. Ideas are personal.)
