Eight types of psychoactive substances being used by victims
Funds increased for counseling, de-addiction measures
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 3: Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has informed the Parliament that there are estimated 13.50 lakh drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and most of them are in the age group of 18 to 75 years. It has laid stress on coordination among all the concerned agencies to control the trafficking, production and distribution of drugs.
In its report presented to both the Houses of the Parliament today, the Standing Committee comprising of 27 Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has mentioned the estimated number of current drug use among children aged 10-17 years and adults 18-75 years based on the projected population in 2018.
About 10-17 years age group, the Committee has mentioned that estimated 1,68,700 children are drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and they are taking Cannabis, Opioids, Sedatives, Cocaine, Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS), inhalants and Hallucinogens. Majority of them are using Opioids and inhalants while as others are habitual of taking Sedatives and Cannabis.
As far as 18-75 years age group is concerned, the Standing Committee has informed the Parliament that 11,80,000 adults are drug users in Jammu and Kashmir and majority of them are addicts of Opiods followed by Cannabis, Sedatives and Inhalants. With this, a total of 13,48,700 persons are drug users in Union Territory and number might be higher as these estimates are based on the projected population in 2018.
“Seven types of psychoactive substances viz Cannabis, Opioids, Cocaine, Amphetamine Stimulants, Sedatives, Inhalants and Hallucinogens were found to be used by the victims, besides alcohol which is the most common psychoactive substance used by adults”, the Committee has mentioned in its report.
On being enquired about the steps being taken to control the drug menace after the introduction of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the Standing Committee has been informed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India that funds are being provided for identification, motivation, counseling, de-addiction, after care and rehabilitation of the drug users.
During the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 meager funds were released to Non-Governmental Organizations and others in Jammu and Kashmir under NAPDDR but during 2022-23 the financial assistance was increased to Rs 2.37 crore, which is substantially high as compared to previous two years.
About establishment of District De-addiction Centres, the Department has informed the Standing Committee that all out efforts are being made in this direction in consultation with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The Standing Committee has laid stress on coordination among all the concerned agencies in Jammu and Kashmir to control the trafficking, production and distribution of drugs.
The Standing Committee has also highlighted the significance of preventive education, awareness generation, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of affected persons and greater involvement of society in eradicating the menace.
The prevailing situation vis-à-vis drug menace has already received the priority attention of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Lieutenant Governor has already passed instructions to all the concerned agencies to leave no stone unturned to plug the smuggling routes and generate awareness by involving all the educational institutions.
Moreover, he has made appeal to the society from various platforms to extend all possible assistance to the Government in this regard as it is the collective responsibility of the society to rehabilitate youngsters who have fallen prey to the drug addiction conspiracy hatched by neighbouring country.
He has already directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Anti-Narcotics Task Force to adopt “Zero Tolerance Policy” towards the menace and because of collective efforts of all the concerned agencies large number of drugs have been seized as indicative of the effectiveness of the policy.
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