Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, October 18, 2023 : Bashir Ahmad, a resident of North Kashmir’s Baramulla, once dreamed of seeing his son become a lawyer. However, those dreams were shattered three years ago when his 25-year-old son became a drug addict. Initially suffering from anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, his son turned to drugs as a means of escape.
“During COVID-19, he was glued to the television, constantly watching the latest updates on the virus, and was confined within the four walls of our home. It caused him depression, and he lost his appetite. To escape his anxiety, he started taking drugs. He first began smoking and then moved on to cannabis. Even though COVID is over, it brought a huge transformation in my son’s life as he got involved in drugs,” Ahmad explained.
Ahmad made every effort to stop his son from taking harmful substances, but to no avail. The family even tried to restrict their son’s movements, keeping him locked inside his room for weeks. However, as soon as he was allowed out, he fell back into the same habits. This visibly upset parent recounted his ordeal while waiting in a queue at the government’s Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Kashmir (IMHANS-K) to see a doctor.
According to a recent survey by the J&K government, around 70,000 people are drug addicts in Kashmir, with 52,000 of them using intravenous (IV) heroin. The common substances used by drug addicts in Kashmir are cannabis, heroin, and brown sugar. A study by IMHANS-K also reveals that among the drug addicts in Kashmir, 61.7% are unmarried, while 33.5% are married, indicating that drug abuse affects not only the youth but also older individuals.
Saima Bano (name changed), a resident of Srinagar’s Downtown, was married in 2018. However, she soon faced mental and physical torture from her husband over dowry demands. She returned to her parents’ home several times with bruises on her body.
“He would beat me up and easily lose his cool. Then in 2021, things became unbearable, and I returned to my parents and got divorced,” she recounted in a broken voice.
Mentally disturbed, Bano attempted to end her life several times. One of her friends suggested taking drugs to ease her stress and anxiety. “I first snorted a small amount of drugs and then shifted to injecting heroin. For over a year, I put my parents in deep trouble. They stood by my side and did not lose hope. Today, thanks to my parents’ efforts, I have managed to quit drugs and have been attending counseling sessions,” she added.
A 25-year-old youth from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district became involved in drugs three years ago at a cousin’s wedding. He initially took drugs to ease his stress and anxiety. “One takes drugs initially to escape stress or anxiety, but once involved, it becomes very difficult to quit. My family went through a lot of pain and kept me at a rehabilitation center for a few weeks. I also received counseling there,” he said, who now lives a drug-free life.
Abid Bhat, a sociologist, suggested that society take a multi-pronged approach to drug eradication and be more supportive rather than stigmatizing drug addicts. “Parents must remain alert to any behavioral changes in their children. Even if a child has tried drugs, parents should not be harsh but instead counsel them. Additionally, families with drug addicts often face social ostracism,” Bhat said.
“Preachers and social leaders must also raise their voices for the eradication of drugs. Those suffering from mental illness are vulnerable to drug abuse. Many women who become addicted face domestic violence, and to ease their anxiety, they start taking drugs,” he added.
Kashmir’s well-known women’s rights activist and mediator, Ezabir Ali, noted an increase in domestic violence cases linked to addiction. “Previously, we saw painkiller and cannabis users, but now, unfortunately, thousands of syringes are used daily to inject heroin. Unemployment, the loss of job opportunities due to COVID, and the ongoing conflict in Kashmir have led to a life of uncertainty and frustration, driving both men and women to drug addiction,” Ali explained.
As a recommendation, Ali suggested that drug prevention efforts should be made in schools, workplaces, community centers, and families to promote a healthy, abstinence-based lifestyle. She emphasized the importance of involving youth in these prevention efforts.
Medical practitioners in the valley also stress the urgency of raising awareness about the easy availability of drugs. “We need to raise our voices against drug addiction, including its supply, and make people aware of its consequences,” said Dr. Yasir Rather of IMHANS-K.
He highlighted how drug addiction affects both the educated and uneducated. “Those with mental health issues are particularly susceptible to drugs. We should take proper care of those suffering from mental illness to prevent them from turning to drugs,” he added.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police claim to be taking active measures to combat the drug menace in the Union Territory. According to police records, 815 FIRs were registered in 2021 in drug-related cases in J&K. In 2022, 1,021 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and 1,685 drug peddlers were arrested.
