by Asmat Jan
SRINAGAR: Misbah Sultani, an 11th-grade medical student from Government Boys Higher Secondary School Bomai in Sopore has developed the “Substance Abuse Detector,” capable of identifying nicotine and other alcoholic substances.
In a region where the law-enforcing agencies frequently apprehend drug peddlers, Misbah’s creation moves from reacting to preventing, offering a ray of hope. The region to which Misbah belongs is in the grip of substance abuse. Records that Jammu and Kashmir Police publicly shared suggest in 2023, 265 cases under the NDPS Act were registered, leading to the arrest of 382 drug peddlers. These included “75 hard-core drug peddlers”. So far, police attached properties of seven drug peddlers worth Rs 3 crore, including Rs 1.20 crore in cash.
The magnitude of the mess led young Misbah to get into thinking. Drawing inspiration from the Traffic Police’s Breath Alcohol Analyser, Misbah crafted a portable Alcohol and Smoking detector with guidance from mentors, Sajad and Ishfaq.
“I noticed during my school time that many students were smoking in washrooms or outside before the classes,” Misbah said. “This gave me the idea to create a device to catch them and prevent them from entering the class.”
The detector, as per Misbah, works with sensors and if a person has consumed any substance, it beeps. If integrated into vehicles, Misbah claims that they won’t start if the driver has consumed something abusive.
Introduced at the gates of educational institutions, Misbah says, it will help catch students abusing substances.
Recognised during the celebration of the third Anniversary of the National Education Policy on July 30, 2020, Misbah showcased the model integration of the detector with vehicles, receiving a certificate of appreciation from Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director for Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
Sopore, which falls under district Baramulla has been grappling with drug issues for years now and consistently tops the list for the arrest of drug peddlers every week. Disturbed by the frequent news, Misbah decided to create another Smart Drug Detector specifically targeting drug consumers.
“I see news day by day of arrests of drug peddlers in Sopore and the entire Kashmir valley, I feel disturbed. Now, I am working on a smart drug detector, almost halfway completed, that will detect the consumption of drugs. I am also working on making it integrated into vehicles, preventing the vehicle from starting,” Misbah told Kashmir Life.
The Smart Drug Detector‘s sensors are designed to detect eye and other body movements, making it easier to catch substance consumers, added Misbah.
When integrated into public spaces, especially outside educational institutions, the Smart Drug Detector holds the promise of detecting and deterring drug users, ensuring a safer environment for the youth.
