Beneath the serene peaks of Jammu and Kashmir, a silent plague is ravaging our land. The scourge of drug addiction, fuelled by a relentless tide of narcotics, is stealing the dreams of our youth and fraying the bonds of our society. In recent years, authorities have seized massive quantities of drugs—heroin, cannabis, and psychotropic substances—while J&K grapples with a 1500% surge in substance abuse over the past three years. This crisis is no longer a whisper; it is a roar that demands our collective action. The numbers are staggering. Nearly one in twelve people in J&K, including thousands of children as young as 10, are ensnared by addiction. Heroin, the deadliest of predators, has gripped the Kashmir Valley, with nine out of ten addicts succumbing to its pull, often through needles that spread diseases like Hepatitis C at alarming rates.
Tragically, addiction has driven some to despair, with lives lost to suicides and families shattered by its weight. The human cost is matched by economic ruin, as young addicts spend thousands monthly to feed their habits, often turning to crime or betrayal, like the heart-wrenching case of a son taking his mother’s life to fund his addiction. J&K’s geography makes it a battleground for this crisis. Nestled near borders that pulse with illicit trade, our land faces a barrage of narcotics smuggled through drones, tunnels, and even human couriers, including in many instances where women are drawn into this dark trade.
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It may be recalled here that on Tuesday a packet containing 500-gram heroin worth more than two crore was seized near the international border in Kathua district, within minutes after it was dropped by a Pakistani drone. This confirms that the link to narco-terrorism is undeniable, with border areas like Jammu’s frontier villages serving as gateways for this poison. Yet, the roots of addiction lie deeper—decades of conflict, joblessness, and despair have left our youth vulnerable, pushing them toward escape in a syringe or pill.
Efforts to fight back are underway. Authorities have destroyed tons of seized drugs and established de-addiction centers, but these measures fall short of the crisis’s scale. Stigma and limited access keep many from seeking help, while forensic and medical support struggle to keep pace. We need a bolder response: intensified border patrols to choke smuggling routes, more rehabilitation facilities free of judgment, and job programs to restore hope. This place must unite—parents, educators, and religious leaders must weave a safety net of awareness and support, guiding our youth away from this abyss. J&K stands at a crossroads. This drug plague threatens not just lives but the soul of our motherland. Let us rise—families, neighbours, and leaders—to shield our youth and reclaim our future from this silent killer. The time for action is now.
