The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said there has been no increase in newly registered cases of drug abuse in the Union Territory (UT) over the past three years.
Responding to a question from MLA Bani Dr Rameshvar Singh, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo said the Health Department in Jammu and Kashmir has been actively working to combat rising drug abuse through various preventive and rehabilitative measures.
“IEC activities, seminars, workshops, and programs are regularly undertaken in schools, colleges, and universities, in collaboration with district administration, NGOs, volunteers, and other allied agencies, to address the menace and ill effects of drug and substance abuse,” Itoo said. “We have collaborated with J&K Bank under the project Najjath, which focuses on drug abuse prevention and treatment. This initiative was successfully launched on November 10, 2023, covering the Jammu and Pulwama districts.”
She said the project aims to raise awareness among individuals, families, and communities about the harmful effects of tobacco and drug addiction, as well as the available resources for prevention, treatment, and support.
To further facilitate treatment for drug victims, the government has established a call centre known as Tele Manas, which provides counselling, helps with stress management, and motivates drug users to quit.
When responding to a similar question from MLA Banihal Sajad Shaheen, Itoo acknowledged that there had previously been an increase in drug addiction among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. However, she said that since the initiation of the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan in September 2022, there has been a slight decrease in the registration of new cases, according to available records.
“As per available data, there has been no increase in newly registered drug addiction cases in Jammu and Kashmir. A comparison of three years of data shows no rise in the number of registered cases,” she clarified.
The health minister highlighted the steps taken to combat this issue, including the adoption of a drug re-addiction policy, the constitution of a State Level Policy Implementation Monitoring Committee, and the launch of a massive campaign—Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan. She said the Health Department has established standard operating procedures, divisional-level monitoring committees, and district-level monitoring committees for effective oversight and functioning of drug de-addiction centres.
Currently, there are 20 addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) operational in Jammu and Kashmir, with 11 in the Kashmir Division and 9 in the Jammu Division. Outpatient department (OPD) services are functional in all 20 districts, while inpatient department (IPD) services are available in all 9 Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), catering to both male and female patients, with psychiatrists available in all GMCs throughout the UT.
“Twenty-five medical officers, with 12 from Jammu and 13 from Kashmir, have been trained by NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and were deployed to their respective districts to strengthen de-addiction centres. They are also responsible for enhancing surveillance and data collection on a daily basis through Google Sheets for real-time reporting to monitor trends and measure the impact of interventions,” the minister added.
Responding to a similar inquiry from MLA Khanyar Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister Itoo said the Health Department’s role is limited to managing medicinal preparations that fall under their purview, while the enforcement staff regulates the sale of habit-forming drugs governed under Schedule H1 and X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
“The subject of narcotic drugs, as well as violations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985, is primarily regulated by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Excise, Police, and the Revenue Department of the UT. Sale statements for habit-forming drugs are obtained from depots and C&F of various pharmaceutical manufacturers operating in the UT,” she said, adding, “The supply chain of such drugs is monitored regularly up to the end-user level. We are continuously persuading state drug controllers in neighbouring states and UTs to exercise strict regulation regarding the sale of such medicinal preparations to restrict interstate smuggling.”
The minister added that the Drug and Food Control Organisation conducts awareness programmes at the district level to educate the public about the ill effects of habit-forming drugs. Special drives, in addition to routine inspections, are being conducted to curb the menace of these drugs, including prosecutions and administrative actions such as the suspension of drug sale licenses under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
She said the department has also successfully implemented directives from various NCORD meetings regarding the installation of CCTV cameras and the adoption of computerized billing systems in drug sale establishments.
“This proactive approach has resulted in increased transparency, accountability, and responsibility in the drug regulatory mechanism,” Itoo said—(KNO)
