Dr Sudershan Kumar
sudershan.sk12@gmail.com
Jammu and Kashmir stands at a critical social crossroads. Alongside its aspiration for peace, development, education, and prosperity, the region faces one of the gravest internal threats to its social fabrics, the growing menace of drug abuse among youth. What was once considered an isolated problem has now evolved into a serious public health emergency, a social crisis, and a security concern. The spread of narcotics among teenagers, youth, and adults is no longer confined to urban pockets. It has penetrated into towns, border belts, educational spaces, and even among rural communities. The tragedy of drug addiction lies not merely in substance abuse, but in the destruction of the human potential. A young student loses focus, a talented athlete loses discipline, a promising worker loses purpose and a family loses its peace. It is a well known fact that the drug addiction slowly erodes the intellectual, emotional and moral foundations of the society. It destroys homes, fuel crimes, destroys livelihoods and pushes youth into cycles of dependency, violence, and despair. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir represent its greatest strength. They are the future soldiers, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, farmers, artists and leaders of the region. If this generation falls prey to addiction, the consequences will not only be limited to individuals, it also will affect the economic productivity, social harmony, law and order and long-term stability of the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The problem is alarming in both scale and impact. Hence, the crisis must therefore be treated not as routine law and order issue, but as a battle for the future of the society. Therefore, it requires a whole of society’s response, firm enforcement, compassionate rehabilitation, vigilant families, responsible communities, active schools, accountable institutions, and inspired youth leadership. Needless to mention here that drug addiction is not just poisoning the body of youth, in fact it is poisoning the soul of the society. Therefore, all out efforts are required to defeat it.
Before one actually goes for curbing drug menace among the innocent youth, it is utmost important to know about the origin of drugs, their types, and process of turning innocent youth into drug addict.
“Heroin, often is sold on the street under deceptive local slang such as “Ganja”, “Kala Maal” or Pooki, is a highly addictive and destructive narcotic that has emerged as one of the most dangerous substances, trapping youth in Jammu-Kashmir and across India. These names deliberately used by peddlers to disguise the drug’s real identity and make it sound less threatening especially to first time users. In reality to increase profit market, these adulterated opioids are often mixed with toxic chemicals that intensifies addiction and degrade mental stability of the individual. Heroin is derived from morphine, which comes from opium poppy plants. These low grade narcotics enter India through cross border routes especially via the Golden Crescent region comprising of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir’s geographical vulnerability has made it a target corridor for such smuggling networks. These drugs are consumed in several dangerous ways. Users may inhale the powder through nose, smoke it or mix it in cigarettes or in more severe cases dissolve and inject it directly into the blood stream. Injecting is especially dangerous as it increases the risk of overdose, collapsed veins, HIV, hepatitis and rapid physical deterioration. What begins as “Just one Try” turns into dependency within weeks; because, heroin acts directly on the brain’s reward system, creating false sense of relaxation, pleasure, escape over time, the user becomes physically and mentally dependent, unable to function without drug. Drug peddlers lure innocent youth through a calculated and manipulative process. They rarely offer heroin openly. Instead, they target economically vulnerable adolescents, students, hostel residents, and those facing stress, loneliness, peer pressure or family neglect. The first contact is often made through friend circles, local hangouts, tuition groups, gaming spots or social media chat. A peddler may initially pose as a free offering emotional support, cigarettes, vape, cannabis, pills or something to relax mind. The first few doses are often given free to build trust and dependency. Once the youth begins using regularly, the trap tightens. The same supplier starts charging money, demanding loyalty or even forcing the addicts to recruit others in exchange of next dose. This turns victims into carriers and users into peddlers. Peddlers also use psychological manipulation. They market the drug as a stress reliever, study booster, tension killer or cool lifestyle symbol, some convince youth that it improves confidence, helps them forget problems or make them socially accepted. In many cases drug is introduced during emotional breakdowns, exam stress, heartbreak, unemployment or isolation. Once dependency begins shame and fear prevent the victim from seeking help. By then the youth is trapped, financially exploited, emotionally broken, physically weakened and socially isolated. This is how heroin destroys not just one life but the entire fabric of families and communities. The real danger lies not only in the drug itself but in the carefully designed deception that turns youth into the lifelong victims. Therefore, there is a dire need to curb this menace among innocent youth. In doing so the role of family, society, civil society, icons and government agencies is very crucial with prevention and de-addiction. Family is the first line of defense. A vigilant, emotionally connected family can prevent addiction before it begins. Parents must communicate openly, observe behavioral changes, monitor friend circles and create trust-based relationships. Discipline must be firm but compassionate. Second, the society must break the silence around addiction. It is established fact that drug abuse thrives, where communities remain passive. Mohalla communities, elders, teachers, youth clubs and religious leaders must work together to identify risk, counsel families, and intervene early. Third, religious and moral institutions can also play a powerful role in restoring values, restraint, and social accountability among the citizens. Hence the way forward is a comprehensive strategy. The solution must be preventive, corrective and rehabilitative. Building awareness from schools, strengthening emotional counseling in institutions, strengthening anti-narcotics enforcement, creation of de-addiction infrastructure, building of community vigilance systems, severest punishment to peddlers and their masters and the last one is the rehabilitation of users with dignity. Further for tearing into the network of drug suppliers, drug peddlers and preventing youth from drug addiction, the following steps are absolutely essential:
Government agencies: Police, Health, Social welfare, Education, youth service and District administration must function in coordination. Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD), Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), schools, hospitals and local administration must work in tandem to curb this social evil.
Civil Society: NGOs, social worker, retired professionals, teachers and volunteers must lead awareness campaign against this social evil.
Youth icons: Athletes, Artists, Teachers, Influencers, Veterans and Local achievers should become anti-drug ambassadors.
Families: It is a hard known fact that no anti-drug campaign can succeed, unless families become alert, engaged and fearless. Parents must teach children, moral values, self-discipline respect for elders, importance of good company and healthy friendship. If any suspicion of drug use arises, parents should act immediately with patience and seek counselling, medical help and professional rehabilitation support instead of punishment and humiliation.
The author is of the opinion that the fight against drug in Jammu and Kashmir is not merely a campaign against narcotics, it is a mission to protect the future of the society. Every addicted youth is not just an individual in distress, but a warning to the community. Every recovered youth is not just a survivor, but a symbol of hope. Therefore, the challenge is serious, but not irreversible.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir can defeat the drug menace if it responds with courage, discipline, compassion and unity. The answer lies not only in arrests and laws but in strong home aware communities, active institutions, and purposeful youth. The author will stop his pen with this famous quote: “To save youth is to save families. To save families is to save society and to save society is to secure the future of developed and prosperous not only of Jammu and Kashmir, but whole of India.
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