The issue of drug addiction and its far-reaching consequences is an intervention to address the organic foundation of family and community. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has recognized the seriousness of the situation and has initiated a comprehensive anti-drug awareness campaign, to educate the population, and in particular, the youth, about the negative physical, psychological, and social impacts of addiction.
Workshops, seminars, and community programmes are being rolled out in all districts in the attempt to sensitize society and produce any form of rejection of this social evil.
At this point, de-addiction centres are improving all the time meaning that those ensnared in this vicious circle may now receive treatment in the safety and comfort of medication and psychiatry.
Rehabilitation is the continuation of treatment and social reintegration into society so that the patient is a productive and self-assured member of society. An all-round positive initiative is counselling, skills training, and employment to the weak from whom the government has rescued, which arguably addresses the motivators for addiction.
The civil administration, along with the police, has increased the clampdown on drug dealers and sent the message that they will show a hard line of zero tolerance for the narcotics trade of any kind.
With these latest developments, some measure of deterrent should now be achieved as the supply chain and trafficking system has been undermined.
However, administration alone is not capable to wage war against drugs, since this is a shared responsibility. Families, educational institutions, faith based organisations and civil society must work together to develop the kind of culture that enables a stigma attached to the use of drugs as well as prevent drug use upfront.
Parents and teachers must have open discussions with children about healthy lifestyles.
The proactive initiatives taken by the J&K administration see a bright future in which drugs will not be present at all.
Let this be pushed forward and bolstered with public support. Let everyone commit to stand side by side, for the commitment to eradicate drugs from our society.
A drug-free Jammu and Kashmir is no longer a futuristic notion; it is a reality to which we can stride towards starting today.
