Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s directive to intensify the crackdown on drug networks reflects the growing recognition within the administration that substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir has reached alarming proportions. What was once seen as a scattered social concern has now evolved into a serious public health and governance challenge that requires long-term and coordinated intervention.

The numbers themselves tell a disturbing story. More than 32,500 substance abuse cases have been registered in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022, demonstrating both the scale and spread of the crisis. Kashmir division accounts for 16,759 cases while Jammu division has reported 15,758, showing that addiction is no longer confined to specific districts or demographics.

The district data further highlights the gravity of the situation. Srinagar leads with around 6,100 registered patients, followed by Anantnag (2,157), Kulgam (2,075), and Baramulla (1,623). In Jammu division, Government Medical College Jammu alone has recorded 9,806 cases, underlining how urban environments often become hubs of both supply and vulnerability.

These figures should serve as a wake-up call. Drug abuse today is not merely a law-and-order issue; it is closely tied to rising mental health challenges, unemployment, and social uncertainty among young people.

The government’s enforcement push under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is therefore necessary and timely. Breaking trafficking networks and tightening surveillance on narco-terror links are essential steps. However, experience worldwide shows that enforcement without prevention and rehabilitation produces only limited success.

Health Minister Sakina Masood Itoo has rightly pointed to depression and unemployment as major drivers behind the rise in addiction. This highlights the need for a broader policy response that includes employment opportunities, skill development programmes, sports engagement, and accessible mental health counselling.

The government’s efforts to regulate the sale of prescription drugs and tighten monitoring of chemist shops are also important, as many addiction cases originate from the misuse of pharmaceutical substances. Strong compliance mechanisms will be key to ensuring these rules are implemented in practice.

Jammu and Kashmir is confronting a slow-moving but deeply damaging social crisis. The seriousness shown by the administration must now translate into serious and sustained action.

© Greater Kashmir