At 13 lakh users, J&K’s drug graph shows disturbing trend

• Abid Bashir
• Comments 0
• 21 Apr 2026

Kashmir standing at difficult crossroads, say mental health experts • 13+ lakh total users • 4.5–5.4 lakh opioid users • 3.5 lakh alcohol users • 1.3 lakh cannabis users • 1.5 lakh sedative users • 1.6 lakh+ children (10–17 years) affected • 80%+ cases linked to opioids • Rising trend: Injectable drug use

Srinagar, Apr 20: With over 13 lakh people estimated to be using substances in Jammu and Kashmir, experts warn that the region is facing a mounting public health crisis, with opioids emerging as the single biggest concern and young people increasingly at risk.

According to the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, between 4.5 and 5.4 lakh individuals in J&K are opioid users, while alcohol affects around 3.5 lakh people, cannabis about 1.3 lakh, and sedatives nearly 1.5 lakh. More worrying, experts say, is the growing prevalence among minors, with over 1.6 lakh children aged 10 to 17 already using substances.

“Kashmir today feels like it is standing at a difficult crossroads. What we once spoke about quietly is now something I see every day in my clinic,” said Dr Muhammad Abrar Guroo, Senior Consultant at Government Psychiatric Hospital Srinagar. “Substance use is no longer hidden—it is a growing and very real public health crisis, especially among our young.”

Dr Guroo said the nature of substance abuse in the region has changed significantly over time. “It is no longer occasional. It is steady, spreading, and affecting families across all sections of society. Many patients come late—when dependence is already severe, largely due to stigma, denial and silence,” he said.

He added that opioids dominate the clinical landscape, accounting for over 80 per cent of cases in some studies, with a significant number of users resorting to injectable routes. “This is not just for use. This is dependence. This is a risk,” Dr Guroo stressed.

Amid the growing crisis, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on April 13 announced a decisive “war on drugs” in J&K. The campaign has seen authorities intensify action against drug peddlers, including razing properties built through illicit means and cancelling driving licences, passports and Aadhaar cards of those involved in drug trafficking.

S Umar Bhat, head of Secure Path NGO, said the situation demands immediate attention. “We are already battling a serious drug menace. What is worrying is the steady spread and the age at which people are getting involved. This calls for stronger preventive mechanisms and greater public awareness,” he said. “It's time for action rather than words.”

Er Mubashir Jan, ARTO Srinagar and Nodal Officer for the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, stressed the need for strict monitoring at entry points. “There must be proper screening of vehicles ferrying goods into Jammu and Kashmir from other parts of the country, including drivers,” he said. He called for thorough checking of courier consignments, warning that such channels could be misused for smuggling narcotics.

Highlighting the role of society, Moulana Zahoor Ahmad Shah Almadani, who teaches Arabic at Government Degree College (GDC) Bemina, called for the revival of community-level vigilance. “We need to reconstitute local committees in every locality to identify peddlers and addicts, ensure their rehabilitation, and take firm action so that a precedent is set,” he said.

Experts believe that while enforcement measures are crucial, a broader approach is needed—one that focuses on early detection, wider access to treatment, reduction of stigma, and strengthening of rehabilitation systems.

In a joint appeal, stakeholders urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, IGP Kashmir VK Birdhi and SSP Srinagar Dr GV Sundeep to further intensify efforts to curb drug trafficking, prevent the inflow of narcotics, and strengthen awareness and rehabilitation mechanisms.

“This is not just a drug problem. It is a human problem, a family problem, and a generational challenge,” Dr Guroo said, warning that the window to act is narrowing fast. “If we don’t respond now, we may not just lose individuals—we may lose a generation.”