SRINAGAR: Drug abuse, particularly heroin addiction, has become an increasingly alarming issue in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. In response to concerns raised in the Lok Sabha, Member of Parliament Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi sought clarification from the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment regarding the growing drug problem in the Union Territory. The government has provided details on the extent of the problem and the steps being taken to curb it.
According to the National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, alcohol and opioids are the most commonly abused substances in Jammu and Kashmir. The survey, based on data from 2018, revealed that approximately 354,000 individuals in the region were estimated to be alcohol users, and 151,000 were involved in opioid abuse. Cannabis and sedatives also showed significant usage rates.
To address the increasing rates of drug abuse, the Ministry has been implementing several initiatives under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), which aims to reduce drug abuse, has reached over 98 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir, including more than 8 lakh youth and 9 lakh women. The campaign has targeted all districts of the Union Territory, with the government supporting a variety of rehabilitation services.
As of the financial year 2023-24, more than 31,000 individuals in Jammu and Kashmir have received treatment for drug addiction. These efforts include the operation of 1 Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), 3 Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODICs), 2 Community Peer-Led Interventions (CPLIs), 5 District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs), and 20 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in government hospitals. The Department has also set up a toll-free helpline (14446) to provide primary counselling and immediate referral services to individuals seeking help for drug addiction, with over 1,000 calls received from the region so far.
Despite these measures, the issue remains pressing, and there are calls for further strengthening of the infrastructure for rehabilitation in the region. Currently, the facilities available are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of patients seeking help, prompting discussions on expanding the number of de-addiction centres.
Regarding drug trafficking from Pakistan, the government has pointed to international cooperation in addressing the issue. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) was signed in 2011 to combat drug trafficking and illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals. India also raises the issue of drug trafficking from Pakistan at international platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the SAARC Drug Offence Monitoring Desk.
