As Jammu & Kashmir battles a growing substance abuse crisis, social activists and experts are calling for a time-bound, comprehensive drug de-addiction and youth rehabilitation policy, warning that without urgent intervention, the region risks losing an entire generation to addiction.
According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, over 13.5 lakh people in J&K are drug abusers, including 1.68 lakh minors aged between 10 and 17, and among them, around 95,000 are Opioid users.
As per the report among 1,68700 children drug abusers, 8,000 are using cannabis, 95,000 opioids, 19,000 sedatives, 100 cocaine, 400 Amphetamine Stimulants, 46,000 inhalants and 200 hallucinogens.
It further reveals that 11,80,000 adults of the 18-75 age group are drug abusers and among them, 3,54,000 are using alcohol, 1,36000 cannabis, 4,47,000 opioids, 1,51,000 sedatives, 89,000 inhalants and 1000 each of cocaine, stimulant and hallucinogens.
Firdous Ahmad, a Srinagar-based social activist working with youth affected by addiction, told KNO: “In some areas, addiction has reached to extreme level as every home is either directly or indirectly affected. We are seeing children as young as 12 being brought to counselling.”
He believes that while awareness has grown, services have not. “We now have enough rehabilitation centres, but most of them are understaffed, and facilities need to be upgraded so that patients can be admitted there,” he said.
A de-addiction counsellor in south Kashmir said stigma is a huge barrier. “Families hide their children’s addiction out of shame. By the time help is sought, the child is already dependent. We need more school-level interventions and counsellors in every educational institution,” he said.
The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), launched in 2018, aims to support awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation nationwide. But social workers in J&K argue that the scheme’s implementation on the ground remains patchy.
The NAPDDR also includes skill development, awareness programs, and livelihood support for ex-addicts — measures activists say could be game-changers if properly executed in J&K.
Beyond the numbers, the human cost of drug abuse is staggering. Rising suicide rates linked to substance use, increased crime, and breakdowns in families are clear indicators of the damage being done. The use of cocaine, amphetamines, and hallucinogens is rising, while tobacco usage stands at 20.8%, the sixth highest in India.
The activists, professionals, and political leaders unanimously urge the J&K administration to formulate a dedicated Drug Policy, focusing on: expansion of rehabilitation and mental health infrastructure, School and college-based intervention programmes, community-level awareness drives, livelihood support and skill-building for recovering addicts and strict control on pharmaceutical drug misuse
Experts said that with around 14 lakh drug abusers, de-addiction and counselling are major challenges, and the government needs to think about it seriously.
“The problem is the social stigma attached to drug abuse, which often discourages families from seeking help, they said, adding that the stigma not only isolates the addicts but also delays intervention.
They called for a comprehensive, community-based approach that includes awareness, early intervention, rehabilitation, and long-term support—(KNO)
