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Adulterated heroin ravaging youth in Kashmir

But among these, the most harrowing were the patients who slowly walked to the examination rooms, their limbs wrapped in bandages, their wrists, hands and feet mottled with purple and black bruises
12:24 AM Feb 03, 2025 IST | ZEHRU NISSA
adulterated heroin ravaging youth in kashmir
Adulterated heroin ravaging youth in Kashmir
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Srinagar, Feb 2: A sense of desperation hung in the air at the SMHS Hospital's Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre (DDTC). The waiting room was a sea of gloomy faces, etched with the tell-tale signs of addiction’s cruel grasp.

But among these, the most harrowing were the patients who slowly walked to the examination rooms, their limbs wrapped in bandages, their wrists, hands and feet mottled with purple and black bruises.

The stench of rotting flesh wafted as they passed, a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of adulterated heroin's deadly stranglehold. A growing number of patients are presenting with gruesome complications, shocking doctors and highlighting the devastating consequences of adulterated heroin use. The synthetic drug, often laced with toxic substances like fentanyl, talc or chalk, is wreaking havoc on users, causing an alarming rise in cases of gangrene, infections and even death.

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Doctors working with various departments of GMC Srinagar said they are struggling to cope with the severity of cases, with patients arriving at hospitals with limbs discoloured, fingers and toes turned black, heart infections, vascular complications and death and disabilities staring at their faces.

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“We've seen a significant increase in patients presenting with gangrene-like complications due to injection drug use,” said Prof Yasir Hussain Rather, a leading expert in addiction treatment and Incharge DDTC at SMHS Hospital.

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“The severity of these cases is unprecedented and it's clear that adulterated heroin is the culprit.” He said synthetic heroin is cheaper than pure heroin and is more readily available. “They (the person abusing heroin) know it’s impure, but the addiction of heroin is such that they just cannot stop taking it no matter in what form it comes,” he said.

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The impurities travel through veins, sometimes get into arteries and reach the heart. “Often it is not just impurities, it is also infection that gets in,” said Dr Irfan Ahmed Bhat, noted Cardiologist working at GMC Srinagar.

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Endocarditis, a rare but deadly infection of the heart's inner lining, has become a haunting reality that cardiologists at GMC Srinagar are witnessing regularly now.

“The bacteria and fungus that cause endocarditis are often introduced into the bloodstream through dirty needles or contaminated drugs, they wreak havoc on the heart’s delicate valves and tissues,” Dr Bhat said. He said every week 3-4 patients are admitted with these complications by the Department of Cardiology at GMC Srinagar.

“While the bacteria quietly destroy the heart's infrastructure, patients experience excruciating pain and extended illness, leading to catastrophic consequences, including heart failure, stroke and even death.

“Moreover, the loss of limbs due to gangrene and vascular issues is another stark reality that we have seen in our patients abusing drugs; mostly young males, in the years of life that could have been most productive for them,” he said.

The dangers of impure heroin cannot be overstated. The toxic substances it contains can cause a range of deadly complications, including overdose, respiratory depression, vascular blockages, infections and severe tissue damage.

The risk of gangrene and death is particularly high, as the drug’s corrosive effects can quickly destroy tissue and cut off blood supply to vital organs. Many a time, amputation of a limb or a part of a limb is the only solution.

The de-addiction professionals too are sounding the alarm, warning of the devastating consequences of adulterated heroin use.

“We're seeing young people, with their whole lives ahead of them, being ravaged by this poison,” said Dr Rather. “It's a tragedy and we need to take action to address this crisis.”

Demand reduction and supply channel reduction are the way forward, Prof Rather believes.