SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 25,2025:
Drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir has evolved from a hidden crisis into a pressing societal emergency, demanding urgent and united action.
According to the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 2022–23), more than 10% of J&K’s 1.35 million population is affected by substance use, including thousands of adolescents. Behind these alarming statistics lie stories of broken families, wasted potential, and silent suffering spread across the region.
Recognising the depth of the crisis, the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan represents a major policy shift — from viewing addiction as a crime to addressing it as a public health and social development challenge. The compendium released by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) yesterday highlights this transformation, documenting extensive grassroots outreach, confidential counselling, and community-led rehabilitation initiatives.
Under this campaign, thousands of youth volunteers, educational institutions, and local organisations have taken the lead in awareness generation, prevention, and support services across urban and rural areas. The initiative underscores that recovery begins not in isolation but through empathy, education, and engagement.
Experts and officials stress that the fight against drug abuse requires policy coherence and compassion — schools that educate before drugs reach, communities that heal before stigma strikes, and livelihoods that restore dignity after recovery.
Every recovered life strengthens society; every informed citizen becomes part of the solution. Combating addiction is no longer the government’s task alone — it is a collective social duty that demands awareness, coordination, and continued commitment.
