RK Exclusive: Kashmir’s drug crisis reaches unprecedented levels

Abid Bashir
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07 Jan 2026

Large number of 10 to 17-year-old kids among 14 lakh drug abusers in Valley Kashmir’s deepening drug crisis has crossed a shocking threshold, forcing medical experts and society to confront a grim reality. In a chilling revelation, health professionals have reported that some addicts, unable to find relief from heroin or opioids, have begun chewing spider legs to satisfy their cravings, a sign of extreme psychological dependence and a collapsing sense of normalcy among those trapped in addiction. The scale of substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir has now reached nearly 14 lakh people, including children aged 10 to 17 years. Doctors report that over the past three to five years, both the number of users and the severity of addiction have surged drastically. De-addiction centres are overcrowded, counsellors stretched thin, and families often realise the depth of the problem only after it has taken root. A senior medico at the Government Psychiatric Hospital Srinagar, dealing with the persons struggling with the drug abuse revealed that the level of dissatisfaction among the abusers has reached to a level that heroine, cocaine, brown sugar and other opioids fail to “satisfy” them. “We were shocked to see persons struggling with drug abuse are now chewing spider legs to satisfy themselves and feel relieved,” he said. Dr Aijaz Suhaf, Senior Consultant at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Srinagar, described the trend as a red flag for society. “The number of addicts has risen dramatically, and at the same time, rush at de-addiction centres has increased sharply. Addiction patterns are becoming more complex and dangerous,” he warned. Dr Suhaf stressed that the crisis cannot be treated solely as a medical issue. He cited family neglect, stigma, and prolonged absence of parental supervision as major contributing factors. “Stigma often begins at home. When addiction drives people to extreme actions, it is usually a response to distress and a desperate need for relief,” he said, urging families to engage openly and intervene early. Civil society voices echo similar concerns. Irfan Attari, President of Youth Web NGO, blamed the alarming rise in addiction on the easy availability of drugs across Kashmir. “Narcotics can be procured with shocking ease. If a girl steps out at 9 pm, she can get the drug she wants, boys don’t even have to try,” he said, calling the situation a complete failure of deterrence and enforcement. Religious leaders have also acknowledged the seriousness of the threat. Patron Faizan-e-Mustafa, Moulana Miyan Adil Noorani, said that Imams and Khateebs have a crucial role but admitted current efforts fall short. He called for dedicated time during Friday sermons and sustained awareness drives at village and local levels. As addiction in Kashmir slips from syringes to spider legs, the crisis has become more than a health emergency, it is now a stark reflection of societal neglect. Experts warn that when drugs are no longer enough, the cost of inaction escalates, and the damage becomes far harder to reverse.