Srinagar Feb 19: The government revealed a shocking scale of substance abuse in Kashmir on Thursday, telling the Legislative Assembly that around 70,000 people—mostly youth—are hooked, with nearly 50,000 injecting heroin intravenously.
Answering MLA Javid Riyaz’s question, the Health & Medical Education Department admitted J&K faces a raging narcotics menace like much of India, fueling social and public health disasters. A 2022 joint survey across 10 Kashmir districts uncovered the staggering numbers.
The administration outlined a multi-angle fightback: awareness drives, prevention programs, tougher policing, and expanded rehab networks in district hospitals, medical colleges, and police centers. About 69,000 patients have received treatment so far.
Free OPD/IPD, emergency care, and Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) run at Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in medical colleges and hospitals—1,864 registered clients, 358 now active. Specialized Mental Health and Addiction Clinics operate, backed by NHM, NMHP, NAPDDR, and Nasha Mukt Bharat campaigns hitting schools, colleges, and neighborhoods.
Drug Control enforced 518 awareness sessions in 2025-26 (till Dec), publicizing helpline 104 for urgent counseling. IMHANS Kashmir and GMCs are scaling up, with new inpatient units at Anantnag, Handwara, Srinagar; Baramulla GMC got ₹5 crore for a dedicated de-addiction building. Rural outreach and follow-ups continue amid vows for systematic eradication.
