10% of J&K population struggling with substance abuse, yet long-term rehab still a mirage
Srinagar, Oct 26: Roughly 10% of Jammu and Kashmir’s population is estimated to be abusing substances, with many of them underage and facing a lifetime at risk. Despite the presence of drug de-addiction centres in some central hospitals, the absence of a fully functional long-term rehabilitation facility in the region is pushing families into despair or forcing them to seek expensive treatment out of state.
At SMHS Hospital, doctors treating substance abuse patients—most commonly heroin—often find themselves at an impasse. There is no local facility capable of offering long-term detoxification, vocational training, therapy, and counselling—essential components for sustainable recovery. Heroin dominates the drug scene in Kashmir, bringing with it high risks of overdose and infections, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, as well as heart and vascular complications.
With an estimated 60,000 to 90,000 heroin users in the Valley, experts say the crisis is larger than any other single health issue in the region. The absence of a local rehabilitation centre leaves families with stark choices: spend lakhs on private facilities elsewhere or watch their loved ones continue down a dangerous path.
Dr Yasir Rather, in charge of the Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre at IMHANS, said the need for a long-term rehabilitation centre is urgent. “Many private rehabs operate on business models. We need a compassionate system for victims and their families, not a method to drain their pockets further,” he said.
The crisis has intensified with the surge in overdose deaths and the proliferation of synthetic opioids like Tapentadol, which are increasingly reaching schools. Over the past decade, Kashmir has seen a multi-fold increase in substance use, now rivalling Punjab in per capita narcotics cases.
Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment mandates District De-Addiction Centres in every district to consolidate inpatient treatment, outreach, and aftercare. Outreach and Drop-In Centres aim to provide community-based screening and referrals, while Community Peer-Led Interventions empower youth to resist drug use.
Despite funding of up to 95% by the Centre, implementation in Kashmir remains sluggish, leaving the region vulnerable to a deepening public health and social crisis.
