| Drugs affect 2 capital cities, Samba and Anantnag the most | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 23: The drugs are taking a heavy toll on youth of Jammu and Kashmir with Jammu, Samba, of Jammu region while Anantnag Srinagar being the most affected districts of Kashmir Valley.
As per a government document, a survey conducted by National Drug-De Addiction Centre AIIMS, SKIMS Medical College, and IMHANS Kashmir has found that the most affected districts are Samba and Jammu.
It was also found that in Jammu, apart from the use of cannabis, pharmacological agents like Buprenorphine, Tramadol, Alprax, were also used. A few cases of intravenous use of heroin, brown sugar were also present..
While in Kashmir, Anantnag and Srinagar are most affected districts of drugs.
The most common substances of abuse identified included nicotine (94.4%), medicinal opioids (65.7%), cannabis (63.6%), benzodiazepines (45.5%), other prescription medications (43.4%), alcohol (32.5%), inhalants (11.1%), and cocaine (7.5%). The study revealed that poly-substance abuse was found in 91.9% of the studied patients. Inhalant use was seen predominantly among adolescents (54.5%) whereas nicotine (50.2%), cannabis (49.2%), alcohol (51.1%), opioids (58.4%), and benzodiazepines (53.48%) were more predominant in the age group of 21 to 30 years.
Over the years, drug addiction has become an area of gross concern. Our society had remained free of this menace for many centuries. However, times have changed and so have social benchmarks, moral values and economic avenues, experts say.
"The disintegration of family norms, trains of living a reasonable life in a rapacious world, struggle for existence in a competitive society have all destroyed the basic supportive framework of the society. Drug abuse in the last few years has increased manifold and is fast proving malicious to the society by causing physical. Psychological and intellectual decay. There has been increased morbidity and mortality. enhanced crime rates, decreased productivity and wastage of economic potential of young generation," a doctor at SMHS hospital said.
A source said that economic effects can be broadly measured that resources spent on law enforcement. drug policies and other efforts aimed at drug interdiction which are actually the resources not spent on education. healthcare. employment etc.
"The cost of treatment and rehabilitation services including burden on acute emergency care. The cost of drug itself to the individuals and families that go into debts. The cost of lost human productivity from morbidity and pre-mature mortality caused by substance use," the source said. |
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