Drug abuse a major challenge for new Govt: Former Advisor to Governor

Srinagar, Aug 30: Former Advisor to J&K Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganai Thursday said that the issue of drug abuse was a major challenge for the new government which would be formed post culmination of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that the issue had no mention in the election manifesto of any of the political parties who were contesting the upcoming J&K assembly polls.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the former advisor and the Vice Chairman of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) said that it was worrying that lots of youngsters were indulging in substance abuse.

“There are so many surveys done on this issue which have revealed disturbing figures. According to one survey, which was also quoted in the Parliament, around 14 lac youth in J&K indulge in substance abuse. But another survey pointed out that the number is six lacs. There is a disagreement on the total number of people who are consuming drugs,” Ganai told Greater Kashmir.

He further said that out of the total figures revealed in different surveys only 60000 to 70000 youth come for treatment.

“The number of cases registered is increasing year by year. The one indication that the number of consumption or consumers is increasing because of trafficking is increasing. The peddling of drugs is increasing. Therefore, more people are being caught or either indulging in peddling and supplying,” he said.

Expressing his concern over the treatment available for drug addicts, Ganai said that more people would voluntarily come for treatment if the treatment was easily available and accessible across J&K.

He said the drug de-addiction was run by both the health department as well as by the police department by setting up drug de-addiction centres.

“But the biggest challenge is prevention because it is growing in such a way that our youth is suffering and is likely to suffer more, which is a loss to the society,” he said.

He said the new government likely to be elected in October this year will have its plate full of challenges including the biggest challenge of drug addiction. “It should be high on their agenda to fight it,” he said.

He said to resolve the problem, the authorities should identify the stakeholders and take them on board and also decipher the cause due to which the youth lands in substance abuse.

“There can be social causes, political causes and economic causes. Jobs are not there or parents do not look after them well. All these have to be understood,” he said.

He said all the stakeholders including parents, police, and chemists being part of the ring have to work jointly to eradicate the menace.

“Schools and colleges also are lagging as they have an ad hoc approach to awareness generation within colleges and schools,” he said

Khurshid Ahmed Ganai said that schools and colleges have lacs of students who can play a major role in awareness generation against drug abuse.

“This is the age group which is vulnerable to drug abuse but there are no identified programs in these educational institutions for awareness generation. No specialists are posted in the schools or colleges. There is no program of visits of specialists to the schools who will talk about the ill effects of drugs,” he said.