By: Mudasir Wani Kashmir valley, renowned for its beauty and culture, has recently been cast into the shadows by a growing epidemic – drug addiction. This ominous presence is unraveling the social fabric and dragging the valley into a bleak abyss. The Pandora’s box of this crisis is wide open. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recently revealed in the Lok Sabha that nearly 10 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir are entangled in the clutches of drug addiction. To put this into perspective, the population of Jammu and…
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Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms
Religious centres and educational institutions are assuming a new role in Kashmir by doubling up as counselling and testing centres to curb the fast-spreading menace of drugs. These rare interventions come as the Valley is battling a drug addiction crisis; over 10 lakh people were officially designated drug addicts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration this year. Otherwise restricted for the clergy, the pulpit at Magam Imambara in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, where Shia Muslims organise large religious congregations, recently saw Muzaffar Khan, a clinical psychologist who heads the Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation…
Read MoreKashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Growing Threat to Young People
Kashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Call to Action By: Javid Amin The Himalayan region of Kashmir is facing a growing drug addiction crisis. A recent survey found that nearly a million people in Jammu and Kashmir – around 8% of the region’s population – use drugs of some kind. This is a significant increase from previous years, and experts say it is a major cause for concern. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in drug addiction in Kashmir. One is the long-running conflict between India…
Read MoreKashmir’s youth in the grip of drug addiction
By: Javid Amin Drug addiction is a pervasive issue in Kashmir, with devastating consequences for individuals and society. The region’s turbulent history, high unemployment rates, and easy access to drugs have all contributed to this crisis. The consequences of drug addiction are far-reaching. In addition to the social and economic costs, drug addiction can also have a devastating impact on the physical and mental health of individuals. IV drug users, for example, are at an increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and TB. Children and young adults are particularly…
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