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| Growing drug abuse, mental disorders reflect Kashmir's dilemma | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 27: With hardly any mental healthcare facilities or de-addiction centres in the Valley, Kashmiris have been left to fend for themselves in their attempt to deal with the emotional disorders.
Born and brought up in turmoil and violence, Kashmir's generation next is now falling prey to drugs. A fresh data of the Srinagar police control room's (PCR) de-addiction centre paints a grim picture. Most drug abusers fall in the age group of 18-35 years and the patient flow at the de-addiction centre is alarming too.
Last year, 633 were registered at the PCR, which has gone up to 1,978. While 81% were male, alarming 19% were females. Number of female drug abusers too is on the rise in the otherwise conservative society.
Started in 2008, the PCR's de-addiction centre has treated an alarming number of 6,693 abusers till date. It is high time to take steps to check this alarming rate of addiction in the Valley.
Youth of Kashmir were taking refuge in drugs as they confront problems in life. The highest number of addicts fall in the age group of 18-35 years. Conflict, high unemployment rate, relationship, peer pressures, family disputes, love breakups and death of loved ones and split families are main reasons behind addiction. The PCR's stress management cell received more than 567 calls from February 2011 to September 2013. Suicidal tendencies were evident.
Exam-related stress queries also topped among the callers, The PCR is grappling to address the increasing rush of patients. Commonly abused drugs are benzodiazepine, sleeping pills, cough syrups and Alprax. Besides opium, fluid, brown sugar and alcohol addiction is also common among the youth, More than 85% patients recovered through 'social intervention plan'.
The social intervention plan comprised individual sessions, family sessions, identification of stressor in the family, antagonist consent, work rehabilitation, relapse prevention education and pre-discharge counseling.
Kashmir University directorate of lifelong learning is planning to initiate a one-month vocational course for rehabilitating drug addicts. This way many will earn livelihood and recover as a fruitful citizen. Society must come forward and help these drug addicts to recover. There is need to accept them as normal citizens. Several studies carried out on addiction in the Valley reveal a strong correlation between conflict and drug abuse. The studies show that in Kashmir, drugs are not used for recreational purposes but as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress. |
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