SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday told the Legislative Assembly that it is pursuing a zero-tolerance approach to curb drug addiction and the illegal trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances across the Union Territory.
Replying in writing to a question by MLA Yudhvir Sethi, the Health and Medical Education Department said stringent action is being taken against violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, especially in cases involving the misuse and unlawful sale of intoxicating medicines.
The government said multiple regulatory and enforcement steps have been introduced to prevent the diversion of abuse-prone drugs. Installation of CCTV cameras has been made mandatory in all medical sale outlets, while a computerised billing system for the purchase and sale of medicines has been enforced throughout the UT.
It said no new or renewed drug sale licence is issued without CCTV installation, adding that 100 per cent coverage has been achieved, while computerised billing has been implemented in 99.9 per cent of establishments.
To check the covert inflow of intoxicating substances, drug control authorities are closely monitoring courier services. Coordination has also been strengthened with drug controllers of neighbouring states and Union Territories to prevent inter-state smuggling of medicinal drugs.
The government said joint enforcement drives are being carried out with agencies including the Narcotics Control Bureau, police, excise, revenue departments and air cargo units to dismantle illegal supply chains.
It added that regular meetings under the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism are held at UT and district levels to review anti-drug initiatives. On the preventive front, the government said 518 awareness programmes were organised across Jammu and Kashmir during 2025–26 up to December to highlight the dangers of drug abuse.
The toll-free helpline number 104 is being widely publicised through awareness campaigns and the media to encourage reporting of illegal drug sale and misuse, the reply said.
