By Prof. Jamsheeda Zaroo

There was a time when the biggest fear in Kashmir was getting caught in crossfire. That fear hasn’t vanished, but something else has crept in, something less visible, yet just as dangerous.

The Valley is now facing a different kind of war, one that’s unfolding inside its neighbourhoods, classrooms, and hospital wards. It doesn’t involve slogans or standoffs. It involves syringes, pills, powders, and silence.

Drug addiction is tightening its grip across Kashmir. The shift didn’t happen overnight, but its presence is undeniable now.

Walk into a de-addiction centre in Srinagar and you won’t just see statistics. You’ll see teenagers with sunken eyes, young women battling withdrawal, and parents who never imagined their child would end up here.

Hospitals are seeing more cases than they can manage, and the numbers are rising with every passing month.

According to the J&K police, drug-related arrests have gone up dramatically in the last few years. More than 10,000 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in 2023 alone.

Healthcare professionals say heroin is now the most common substance among patients, and the majority of users are under 30. Many of them started using before they were even old enough to vote.

This isn’t just about personal choices gone wrong. The crisis is deeply rooted in the circumstances young people are growing up in.

Kashmir has lived through decades of political........

© Kashmir Observer