Drug Addiction in the Shadows
In an age thunderstruck by technological marvels, shaken by economic upheavals, and transformed by sweeping social revolutions, a quieter catastrophe unfolds, deadly, insidious, and often ignored. Drug addiction is not merely a medical condition; it is a profound erosion of human dignity. Hidden beneath layers of shame and silence, it tears apart families, bankrupts economies, and corrodes the moral foundation of society.
According to the UNODC, 296 million people used drugs globally in 2021—a 23% rise over the past decade. Behind these numbers are shattered lives, broken homes, and the painful failure of systems meant to protect the vulnerable. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in Kashmir, once paradise, now plagued by a sorrow that words struggle to contain.
Addiction Is Not a Crime, It’s a Call for Compassion. Drug addiction is not a flaw or weakness. It is a chronic, relapsing brain disease, one that hijacks the dopamine system, distorts memory and emotion, and dismantles decision-making. It’s not a choice but a chemical enslavement. Neuroscience confirms: quitting is not about willpower alone. Recovery must begin with empathy, not judgment.
Web of Risk. Addiction has many faces. It may stem from trauma, mental illness, poverty, or broken homes. It is worsened by peer pressure, media glamorization, easy access, and social neglect. Genetics play a role too, often paired with PTSD, anxiety, or depression. Drugs don’t fill a void—they deepen it.
The Drugs and Their Damage. From heroin and fentanyl to stimulants like cocaine and meth, each drug promises escape and delivers destruction. Tranquilizers, hallucinogens, and even marijuana often act as gateways. The end is the same: ruined health, broken minds and a fraying social fabric.
The Hidden Toll. Addiction spreads like wildfire. It doesn’t stop with the user—it consumes families, destabilizes communities, and strains healthcare systems. Emotional burnout, rising crime, and collapsing productivity follow. What we lose in human potential is incalculable. The response must be rooted in science and compassion—not criminalization.
In Kashmir, addiction has morphed from quiet concern to raging emergency. Political instability, unemployment, and untreated trauma have triggered a surge in drug use. Heroin is the main culprit. A survey by SKIMS revealed that over 80% of drug abuse cases involve youth aged 17–35.
Even schoolchildren now speak of friends who’ve tried heroin. Districts like Anantnag, Pulwama, and Baramulla report the highest heroin seizures. Many Drug De-addiction centers across districts and many NGOs work tirelessly, but with limited resources. Treatment centers are understaffed. The crisis isn’t just medical, it’s moral and structural.
The Faces of Resistance. Amid despair, quiet warriors rise. Laila Qureshi works in low-income neighborhoods, offering counseling and hope. Majid Dar, once addicted himself, now runs a crisis hotline. Doctors like Dr. Arshid Hussain and Dr. Mushtaq Margoob advocate for decriminalizing addiction. Youth leaders form peer groups, safe spaces, and street outreach programs. These are Kashmir’s unsung heroes—fighting with love, not punishment.
From Policy to Healing: India’s national anti-drug efforts, task forces, awareness campaigns, are underway, but implementation needs more. Treatment centers lack trained staff. Stigma still screams louder than support. Global agencies like WHO and UNODC offer frameworks and funding, but healing requires localized empathy.
Recovery must begin at home. Families need to name pain, not deny it. Schools should teach empathy. Clergy must offer support. Media must highlight stories of hope, not just horror.
The Recovery Path. Recovery is rea. Detox, medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed care help restore lives. Family therapy rebuilds broken bonds. Many do relapse, but that’s part of the process, not the end.
Stories of redemption abound. A young man from Pulwama, once injecting heroin daily, now runs a rehab center. A Srinagar artist uses his canvas to inspire others. Recovery is long, but it is possible.
The Way Forward. We need more than rehabilitation—we need a care revolution. That means:
- Strengthening mental health infrastructure
- Introducing emotional education in schools
- Criminalizing traffickers, not users
- Supporting public-private partnerships rooted in science and dignity
- Removing stigma through faith, art, and community mobilization
Let peer groups flourish. Let mosques and schools be part of the solution. Let us lead with humanity, not hierarchy.
Mohammad Arfat Wani is a medical student, writer, and social activist from Kuchmulla Tral
