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........

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