Jammu and Kashmir has whopping 6 lakh people affected by drug related issues, the government said on Friday, quoting consumption survey. Tragically a whopping percentage, 90%, users are from 17-33 age group.
Drug menace in terms of usage and addiction has significantly gone up in Jammu and Kashmir during recent years, the Chief Secretary said and directed the concerned to enhance conviction rate in narco-related cases while simultaneously focusing on proper counselling and rehabilitation of drug affected youth.
Drug abuse has a multifarious impact on the health and existence of humanity. The International Narcotic Control Board report paints a worrying trend also, saying that drug addiction has increased both quantitatively and qualitatively. More and more people belonging to the middle and upper classes are resorting to it. Drug addiction affects family life and social fabric very dangerously. Its steely talons are indiscriminate and spare none—children, parents, the poor, and the rich. Research conducted globally has found that some of the reported overdoses were the result of people trying to self-treat their addiction drugs including opioids.
As put rightly by the Chief Secretary, there is need for formulation of multi-faceted strategy to tackle the drug issue including proper training of enforcement agencies, enhancement of drug testing capacity, assessment of illicit production and trade, seizure and destruction, arrest and conviction of accused, and counselling and rehabilitation of victims.
The erstwhile government in J&K implemented a Drug de-addiction policy. It was said to be broader, encompassing means to effectively challenge various inter-linked aspects. The government carried many awareness programmes but the zeal with which it was started has faded. At almost all levels, the policy failed to meet the ends for which it was formulated and serious efforts, both at official and the societal levels are all but lacking.
There is a need to understand the problem in-depth and proper data to know the enormity becomes very essential.
Youngsters linked to the drug trade are more victims than offenders, a Supreme Court judge famously said and also lay bare not just the callousness towards children that is, regrettably a feature of the society, but also an awareness of the deep corruption that undermines the purpose of any institution for the vulnerable.
A collaborative effort on the part of every stakeholder is imperative to check the menace and every individual, and various social organizations need to join hands together to end the menace.
