x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Number Plate Masking | DC Ramban reviews performance of Revenue Department | Power shut down | After Maharashtra, Jharkhand polls BJP to devise strategy on J&K | CM Omar Abdullah receives grand reception at Civil Secretariat Jammu | Reaches Jammu by road to attend office | Gurez receives snowfall | Army pays tribute to martyr Rakesh Kumar | Search ops on to flush out terrorists | Some ‘anti-nationals’ trying to divide society: PM Modi | Justice Khanna takes oath as 51st Chief Justice of India | In 2024, 8 Jammu districts witnessed terror attacks | Govt orders transfers, postings | Gold prices decline | 220 high-tech divers, 700 boats, and enhanced security for Mahakumbh 2025 | SC notice to centre on plea for robust policy for age check at liquor sale points | CM Omar Abdullah calls for sustainable, high-value tourism policy in J&K | CS for implementation of AMRUT projects | Dr Andrabi pays obeisance at Kishtwar Sufi shrines | Tobacco sale, consumption banned in Katra Sub-Division | Traffic advisory: construction of 4-lane flyover on Tawi bridge road | J&K Forensic Science Lab publishes first STR-based genetic data | Tribal Affairs Minister urges speedy completion of Tribal Bhawan, EMR Schools | Excise Department conducts several raids on brick kilns | Local support fueling terrorism in J&K: Kavinder Gupt | J&K witnesses equitable development under Modi regime: Vikram Randhawa | Bukhari urges Apni Party leaders to intensify public outreach | ADM Reasi bans transportation of bovines | Use, sale & purchase of portable chain saw banned in Reasi | HC clarifies 4% reservation for physically challenged as overall horizontal quota | Cong facing crisis of credibility: Rekha Mahajan | MLA Akhnoor inaugurates road macadamization project | Arvind Gupta pledges to transform Jammu West into model constituency with robust infrastructure | Indian Red Cross Society hosts medical, eye camp | One day awareness programme organized | National Painters' Camp concludes at Mansar | LIC reports strong half-year financial performance for H1 FY2025 | Preparations complete for 77th Nirankari Sant Samagam | GDC Neeli Nallah Udhampur organizes one day workshop | GDC Bishnah students win awards | GDC Vijaypur launches three-day Intra-College Sports Meet | Rotary, Inner Wheel Club host free health camp | JSS hosts successful Model United Nations with Erudite | GLDM College Hiranagar marks National Education Day | Yuvtarang-2024 celebrates student talent at Cluster University | J&K Ball Badminton Women's selection trials held | GDCW Kathua celebrates National Education Day | GCW Parade Ground celebrates World Science Day | Back Issues  
 
news details
Drug abuse in Kashmir, likely to pose challenge for new J&K Govt
9/29/2024 9:15:53 PM
Early Times Report

SRINAGAR, Sept 29: With Kashmir witnessing a steep surge in psychotropic drug abuse, especially the consumption of heroin among youngsters, whoever comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to face an uphill task in tackling the menace.
According to experts, instances of drug abuse have risen manifold over the years due to the easy availability of heroin and rehabilitation centres in the Valley are fully occupied. Dr Mohammad Muzaffar Khan, who is associated with a de-addiction centre run by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, said, “There is no doubt that the number (of drug abuse cases) has increased. “The last report of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment placed in Parliament says there are 10 lakhs (drug) abusers in Jammu and Kashmir a majority of them consume heroin,” he said. Back in 2018, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were in a denial mode about drug consumption and nobody was recognising it as a problem, Dr Khan, who heads the youth development and rehabilitation centre in Srinagar, said.
However, with the effort of police and a huge awareness programme, there is a mass acceptance that the menace of drug addiction is prevailing in the Valley, he said.
Dr Khan highlighted that there has been a change in the addiction scenario in the Valley and it also poses a huge problem.
“Ten years ago, the drugs prevalent here were cannabis and charas which are locally grown. But in the last seven to eight years (from 2016 onward) we have seen a different trend. Now most of the patients are heroin addicts and have developed dependency on heroin,” he said. The in charge of a private rehabilitation centre said the youngest patient at the facility is 14 years old and the oldest is 60.
Deputy Superintendent of Police of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Nisar Bakshi said the whole of Jammu and Kashmir Police is fighting the narcotics menace.
The establishment of this wing has narrowed the scope of drug smugglers, the police officer said. “Anti-narcotics is the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s specialised wing that was established in 2020. It has two police stations in the Jammu division and Kashmir division,” he said. Following the establishment of this wing, the properties of drug smugglers have been seized and many have been detained, DCP Bakshi said, adding the wing has registered 83 FIRs and 181 have been jailed. “This is not a fight of the police alone, it’s everybody’s fight. Unless citizens cooperate with the police, we won’t be able to have a complete victory. Unless our children are safe from this menace, the future is dark. If we want to make this place heaven on earth, we have to fight together against drug abuse,” Bakshi said. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a youth in Kashmir said, “I have been consuming drugs for the past four years. It began for fun and with friends. After a few days, we began experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
“I told my parents about the entire scenario, I requested them to take me to a doctor. They admitted me to the rehabilitation centre and I spent a month there. Now I feel better,” he said. The youth now works as an outreach worker (ORW) at the same facility.
Another person that he started consuming drugs in 2016, after seeing his friend do it. “I started with cigarettes and then shifted to heroin,” he said while admitting that it was a mistake that cost him dearly. “I lost everything and now my business is running in loss. Never take drugs,” the person said.
All political parties, be it the BJP, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party, the National Conference or the Congress, see the problem of drug abuse in the region as one of the major issues and have mentioned it during their campaign in the assembly polls.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU