J&K battles drug crisis amid shortage of trained professionals

Srinagar, May 29: To address the acute shortage of trained professionals for working in various addiction treating facilities across J&K, the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has joined hands with the University of Kashmir (KU) to launch a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Addiction Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling.

The first of its kind course in J&K is the much needed step towards tackling J&Ks massive prevalence of substance use disorders, experts said.

Any postgraduate with a degree in Psychology or Social Work (at least 50 percent marks) from a UGC recognised university is eligible for the course.

Admission will take place based on the score secured in the written entrance test, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The course will start from the ongoing academic year and will have an annual intake of 20 students.

Incharge of the De-Addiction Center at GMC Srinagar, Dr Yasir Hassan Rather expressed enthusiasm for the initiative and its potential.

ìOne of the main problems in de-addiction care delivery is the lack of skilled manpower. In the name of making them well, individuals are often subjected to coercion and exploitation, both physical and financial,î he said.

Dr Rather said that skilled manpower, when available, can be deployed at all levels: from primordial prevention in schools to primary prevention in mental health settings, secondary prevention in de-addiction centers, and quaternary prevention in rehabilitation centers.

“Addiction is a multi-pronged issue, and it needs a professional to deliver the treatment and care. Everyone cannot do it,” he said. The professional courses in addiction and rehabilitation are very limited in India, and this has impeded in making addiction treatment facilities more accessible across the length and breadth of J&K, as envisaged.

Over the past few years, the establishment of Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in many districts of J&K has been a vital step toward addressing the addiction crisis here.

However, their work has remained small-scale due to lack of adequate number of trained professionals.

Experts said that the new diploma could bridge this gap and create a pipeline of skilled addiction counselors “capable of delivering ethical, evidence-based care across various settings”.

J&K has seen a sharp rise in opioid abuse, particularly among youth. The crisis is said to be fueled by socio-economic stressors, trauma, and the changing landscape of society.

In addition, the availability of heroin and other such drugs has also been an issue in J&K due to narco-smuggling from neighboring countries. Dr Rather said the course was aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) emphasis on vocational and skill-based education. “The diploma offers learning and practical experience, preparing students to engage directly with individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use,” he said.