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| All 20 districts declared vulnerable under nationwide NMBA campaign | | Drugs Menace Grips J&K | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 13: In a grim acknowledgment of the growing drug crisis, all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir have been declared as vulnerable to substance abuse, placing the Union Territory among the most affected regions in India. While 272 districts nationwide have been identified as vulnerable under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), Jammu and Kashmir stands out with addiction cases cutting across different age groups, exacerbating the region’s challenges.
Health officials and law enforcement agencies report that drug addiction is rapidly emerging as a public health crisis in the Union Territory. Youth, particularly in the 15–30 age group, are the most affected, with the use of substances such as opioids, cannabis, and prescription drugs becoming alarmingly prevalent. Experts point to the unique geopolitical and social challenges of the region as contributing factors to the crisis. Proximity to international borders and smuggling routes has led to the easy availability of illicit drugs. Simultaneously, stress factors like unemployment and conflict-related trauma have worsened the situation.
In response, the administration has ramped up anti-drug operations and awareness campaigns. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified crackdowns on drug traffickers, resulting in numerous arrests and seizures. However, experts emphasize that enforcement alone is not enough.
Healthcare professionals and NGOs working in the region advocate for a multi-pronged approach. Rehabilitation centers, public awarenes The unique geopolitical and social challenges of the region as contributing factors to the crisis.
Proximity to international borders and smuggling routes has led to the easy availability of illicit drugs.
Stress factors like unemployment and conflict-related trauma have worsened the situation.
Administration has also initiated programs under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction.
The Union Territory administration has also initiated programs under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to provide counseling, de-addiction services, and skill-building for youth. However, challenges such as stigma and inadequate resources continue to impede progress.
As the drug menace tightens its grip on Jammu and Kashmir, stakeholders from all sectors must unite to tackle this crisis. With the entire Union Territory classified as vulnerable, it is clear that the fight against substance abuse requires a collective and sustained effort to safeguard the future of its people.
As reported earlier, nearly 4.5 lakh persons between the age group of 18 to 75 years are addicted to opioid drugs in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is 5.05 percent of the total population of this group.
In a written reply to the question of the National Conference Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi regarding an alarming increase in drug abuse in the Union Territory, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma informed that as per the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by the Ministry through NDDTC, AIIMS during 2018, 4,47,000 people within the age group of 18-75 years are addicted to the opioids drugs in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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