| Needles of despair: Drug abuse soars among J&K’s adults, youth | | | Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 29:Jammu and Kashmir is in the grip of a deepening drug addiction crisis, with official data revealing a staggering rise in substance abuse across the Union Territory.
Recent government reports indicate that over 13.5 lakh people, or nearly 8% of the region’s population, are affected by some form of drug dependence a figure that health officials and experts say is both alarming and unprecedented.
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the majority of drug users fall within the 18 to 75 age group, with a significant number dependent on opioids.
The data, based on the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, paints a grim picture of escalating drug misuse in the region.
The survey found that approximately 4.47 lakh adults (5.05% of the population in the 18–75 age group) are addicted to opioids in Jammu and Kashmir — among the highest rates in the country. In addition, 3.54 lakh individuals from the same age bracket are alcohol-dependent, representing 4% of the group.
Other major substances of abuse include:
Sedatives: 1.51 lakh people
Cannabis: 1.36 lakh people
Inhalants: 89,000 people
These numbers suggest a multi-substance abuse pattern that is severely affecting individuals and families across both rural and urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir. |
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