Authorities battle against rising drug addiction among Kashmir students

Srinagar, Aug 10: The growing menace of drug addiction among school and college students in Kashmir has thrown up a major challenge for the authorities to keep this vulnerable age group away from substance abuse.

According to various surveys and experts, this vulnerable age group has increasingly become the worst victims of substance abuse, leading to a widespread call for collective efforts to save the present generation from this menace.

Amid the growing concern, the role assigned to the School Education Department (SED) and Higher Education Department (HED) as per the approved drug policy of Jammu and Kashmir has come to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Notably, the Department of Education has been given a proper role as per the Drug Policy approved by the government.

As per the policy, the SED has been advised to make ‘drug abuse and its ill effects” part of the curriculum of the students.

“The department should use the services of trained counsellors in schools who will counsel the students about the issues of substance use,” the Drug Policy contents read.

The Education Department has been advised to make and screen different documentaries as Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material against drug abuse in all schools.

Also, the Department of Higher Education has to start a sustained awareness at the gross root level by holding seminars, debates, and symposia.

“The Department of Education can arrange a Training the Trainers (ToTs) programme for teachers, who will then train other teachers. Training will be provided at the nodal centre,” read the contents of the Drug Policy.

According to the policy, the Department of Education has to invite experts from the nodal centre who can talk on the subject in their schools, colleges, and universities and freely interact with the students.

However, an official of the SED said that, over the years, there has been a noticeable increase in drug addiction among students who have been seen bunking classes and indulging in such activities in parks and other public places.

“The situation has become so alarming that authorities are now directly communicating to the parents about the growing issue,” the official said.

The official highlighted the vulnerability of this age group and stressed the need for joint efforts to control the rising trend of drug abuse among the students.

“The age group which is in schools and colleges is more susceptible to drug addiction. We need to establish functional counselling cells in these institutions, and if any such cases are identified, proper counselling should be provided to help them overcome the addiction,” the official said.

In addition to counselling, the official emphasised the importance of regular monitoring of attendance in schools and colleges. A strict vigil should be kept on students’ movements during official hours as well.

“In case of prolonged absenteeism, the issue should be promptly taken up with the parents. It has been observed that some students leave for their colleges or schools but remain absent and roam in parks and other public spots,” the official said.

Besides absenteeism and class bunks, the students are being caught by Traffic Police in Srinagar and other districts while performing stunts on motorcycles and loitering in parks during school hours which has raised concerns about the increasing indiscipline among the youth.

“The increasing indiscipline can be closely linked to the rise in drug addiction,” the official said.

Amid growing concern, the experts suggest that joint efforts by the parents and teachers besides other stakeholders can play a pivotal role in the fight against this menace.

“There should be open communication between parents and their children and the parents should intervene at an early stage to prevent their children from falling into the trap of drug addiction,” the experts said.

As the different surveys have projected that the age group which is in schools and colleges is more vulnerable to drug addiction, the J&K Police and various NGOs organised several awareness programmes in schools and colleges to create awareness among the students about drug addiction and its ill effects. Besides such initiatives, a sustained campaign is needed to nip the evil in the bud.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Prof Arshad Hussain from the Department of Psychiatry at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar while referring to seminars and other awareness programmes organised in schools said that talking to kids about addiction is highly sensitive and only experts should be allowed to talk about addiction in schools.

“Random talks of ‘Mr Know Alls’ can do more damage than help in preventing addiction among the sensitive age group in schools,” Prof Hussain. “While talking to kids, we have to be appropriate and should avoid displaying pictures of syringes.”