Srinagar, Mar 31: Heroin addiction has emerged as the most alarming facet of Kashmir’s growing drug crisis, with official figures revealing that nearly 50,000 out of 70,000 substance users in the Valley are hooked on the drug, many consuming it intravenously.
The data was placed before the Assembly in a written reply to a question by MLA Sham Lal Sharma, underscoring the scale and severity of substance abuse in the region.
“It is a fact that the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir confronts the menace of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS),” the government said, adding that the issue has particularly impacted the youth, raising serious social and public health concerns.
A 2022 joint survey conducted by the Health and Social Welfare departments across 10 districts of Kashmir estimated that around 70,000 individuals are engaged in substance use. Of these, nearly 50,000 are heroin users, with a significant number consuming the drug through the intravenous (IV) route.
The government noted that intravenous use significantly increases the risk of infections and long-term health complications, adding a dangerous dimension to the ongoing crisis.
To tackle the issue, the government said it has adopted a multi-pronged strategy involving awareness campaigns, preventive interventions, enhanced enforcement, and expansion of treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
“Youth identified as drug dependent are being provided treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation services through these centres,” the reply stated.
According to official figures, approximately 69,000 individuals have received treatment or rehabilitation services across various Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) and rehabilitation centres in Jammu and Kashmir, including district hospitals and Government Medical Colleges.
The institutional framework includes District De-Addiction Centres currently functional in Kulgam, Pulwama, and Bandipora in Kashmir, and one such centre in Rajouri district. In addition, three Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs) are operational in Kupwara, Srinagar, and Jammu, while Community-Based Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI) programmes are active in Srinagar and Jammu.
Several private rehabilitation centres are also registered with the government in Kashmir, including Aaghaz DDC in Baghi-Mehtab, Grooming DDC in Padshahi Bagh, and Shaifaa DDC in Lawaypora. In the Jammu division, facilities such as Parivartan Foundation De-addiction and Mental Health Care Centre, Help Psychiatry Centre, and Mind Care Neuropsychiatric Clinic are among those providing support.
The government also highlighted the role of non-governmental organisations, including J&K Students Welfare Mission in Bandipora, Cause NGO in Tral, JK Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses in Jammu, and NESSWO, which operates across multiple districts, along with Himalaya Sewa Sang in Jammu.
Stressing the seriousness of the situation, the government said it is fully cognizant of the growing threat and continues to strengthen its response.
The figures presented in the Assembly point to heroin as the dominant substance driving addiction in Kashmir, with the crisis largely centred around the youth population, raising urgent concerns for both public health and social stability.
