Kashmir’s Silent War Against Drugs

Drug addiction. This is not just a health crisis. It is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in bedrooms, classrooms, mosques and hospital corridors. The weapon? Heroin. The battlefield? Young minds. And the casualties? Entire families.

One Story, Many Shadows

During our Intergenerational Communication programs, we encourage young students to interact openly with their grandparents. In one session themed Be Honest with Your Grandparents, students were asked to share truthfully if they smoked, used drugs or had friends who did, so that we could educate them on the devastating effects of these habits. Many students bravely confessed.

One higher secondary school boy, Munna, said he had never smoked, but once joined a group of friends behind their colony where others were smoking. When he declined a puff, one friend mocked, “Give him a glass of milk, this cigarette is for men.” Under that pressure, he took a puff, only to realize it wasn’t a regular cigarette. “Just one puff and you’ll be a man,” they told him.

That one puff led to a path of destruction. By Class 11, Munna was addicted to heroin. In one year, he spent over ₹10 lakh on his addiction. His mother was on psychiatric medication and his sisters silently bear the burden of shame and sorrow. Munna’s story isn’t rare, it’s becoming frighteningly common.

But there is hope. After fleeing rehab once, Munna finally agreed to stay. With proper medical care, counseling and community support, he completed his treatment. Today, he is back in college. His recovery is not just a personal victory, it is a message to every young person and every parent that healing is possible and that one brave choice can undo even the darkest turn.

What Is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is not simply about poor choices or a lack of discipline. It’s a chronic, relapsing disorder of the brain’s reward system. Substances like heroin hijack the brain’s natural dopamine pathways, creating dependence, compulsive use, and a destructive loop of pleasure and withdrawal. Over time, a user’s brain chemistry is altered, making willpower alone ineffective in breaking the cycle.

Addiction is not a moral failing. But recovery is a moral imperative, for individuals, families, and society.

Geopolitical Powder Keg

Kashmir sits precariously close to the Golden Crescent, the world's most notorious heroin production hub spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan and some parts of Iran. Heroin is trafficked across porous borders, often through Punjab and the Line of Control (LoC) and then filtered into the Valley via well-oiled smuggling networks.

Experts say that the crisis is not just criminal, it is geopolitical. Kashmir has become both a transit zone and a consumer market.

The Numbers That Should Shake Us

Different studies and data suggest:

• 8% of Kashmir’s population uses narcotics
• 90% of these are hooked on heroin
• Over 67,000 active users, most under age 35
• Addicts spend ₹88,000/month, over ₹10.5 lakh/year
• The total financial impact on a family? Often ₹30–₹40 lakh

These aren’t just numbers, they’re lost childhoods, broken homes and morgues filling up.

Youth at the Centre of the Storm

The most vulnerable group? Young men aged 18–35, particularly unemployed youth aged 25–30. Many come from under-resourced schools and conflict-affected communities. Heroin is no longer confined to urban alleyways. It’s now found in villages, classrooms, hostels and even among professionals. Two-thirds of users start between ages 11–20. The push often comes from a “friend.” The fall is swift.

Key signs and symptoms of drug addiction parents should watch for

l  Sudden mood swings – irritability, anger, or depression.

l  Withdrawal from family and friends – isolation, secrecy.

l  Changes in sleep or appetite – insomnia, weight loss/gain.

l  Poor hygiene and grooming – looking unkempt or tired.

l  Bloodshot eyes or unusual pupils – very small or large.

l  Unexplained absences from school/work – falling grades, truancy.

l  Missing money or valuables – frequent need for cash.

l  New and secretive friend groups – avoiding old circles.

l  Lying and sneaking out – strange behavior patterns.

l  Burn marks, needle price on arms or nosebleeds – physical signs of drug use.

Toll on Body, Mind, and Family

• Physically: High rates of Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B due to needle sharing. Untreated, it leads to liver failure and cancer.
• Mentally: Heroin causes severe depression, anxiety, insomnia, and self-harm behaviours. Many suffer from suicidal thoughts.
• Withdrawal is brutal: body pain, sweating, cravings, irritability, and emotional breakdowns. Medical help is essential.
• Socially: Stigma isolates families. Marriages collapse. Parents lose livelihoods and peace of mind.

Stigma is the Silent Killer

Families, fearing judgment, hide the problem. Mothers don’t just fight their child’s addiction, they fight society’s scorn. Addiction remains taboo. As a result, help is delayed. Relationships deteriorate. And addicts, already fragile, spiral further. Until we confront stigma, no rehab, no therapy, no police action will work.

Law Enforcement is Not Enough

Thousands of NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act cases are registered in Kashmir. Heroin seizures grew from a few kgs to quintals. But the supply keeps flowing. Why? Because arrests alone can’t seal a wound this deep. The problem needs prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration, not just prosecution.

Recovery Is Possible: There is hope. Kashmir has centres like GMC Srinagar, Drug De-addiction Centres in many districts and several NGOs are also working in this field. Effective treatment includes:

• Detoxification
• Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) with safer alternatives available at drug de-addiction centres
• Psychiatric counselling
• Family and community reintegration

Recovery is not quick. It takes 3–4 years in many cases. But it works.

To Children and Teens: The next time someone says “Just one puff and you’ll be a man,” remember, even one try can kill. Drugs hijack your brain, not your will. Don’t mistake rebellion for ruin.

To Parents: Please stop thinking, “Mere bache ko kuch nahi hoga.” Instead, start asking, “Could my child be hiding pain?” Talk to them. Watch for the signs. Intervene early. Choose doctors over denial. Don’t ask your children to bring you cigarettes, and if you smoke, make a sincere effort to quit. Never smoke in front of them. Remember, they don’t follow advice, they follow examples.

To Society: This is not “someone else’s problem.” The trafficker may not be in your house, but his impact already is. It’s time for:

• Awareness campaigns in Kashmiri, Urdu and English
• Lessons in religious places of worship, schools and colleges
• Community-based rehab and employment support
• Zero-tolerance for stigma

Bottomline: Kashmir has endured natural disasters and political unrest. But this, this silent disaster, is claiming the very soul of its youth. Let us not lose many like Munna. Let us replace mockery with medicine, shame with support, despair with dialogue. Because no child should be reduced to a statistic and no family should suffer in silence.

It’s time to speak. Loudly. Lovingly. Now.