Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 17: 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. According to data from reliable sources most drug abusers fall in the age group of 18-35 years and the patient flow at the police de-addiction centre is alarming as well.
Of the total cases registered over the past few years, 81% were male and an alarming 19% were females. Number of female drug abusers too is on the rise in the otherwise conservative society.
It is high time to take steps to check this alarming rate of addiction in the Valley, said a local Imam in his Friday sermon last week. Quoting a research paper of a local scholar, the Imam said: "Youth of Kashmir were taking refuge in drugs as they confront problems in life. Conflict, high unemployment rate, relationship, peer pressures, family disputes, love breakups and death of loved ones and split families are main reasons behind addiction."
Suicidal tendencies were found evident in calls received by the PCR's stress management cell. 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.
Experts suggest introduction of vocational courses at the university level for rehabilitation of the drug addicts.
"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 stresses," said an elderly person was heard saying in Srinagar. |
