Srinagar, Jan 8: J&K DPAP General Secretary Kashmir, Er Nazir Yatoo on Monday called upon the government to alter its perspective on drug addiction. He said treating drug addiction as a law and order issue through policing mechanisms is inadequate and urged a shift towards viewing it as a disease.
Er Yatoo in a statement said that drug addiction is fundamentally a disease and requires addressing through scientific inquiry supported by a robust mental health care infrastructure. The absence of such facilities often leads youth to turn to various forms of addiction, he said.
The DPAP General Secretary urged the government to allocate a significant budgetary provision in the upcoming budget to establish a world-class mental health care facility. “The government should consider using picturesque locations in the valley for this purpose,” he said, adding that health should take precedence over tourism.
In the short term, Er Yatoo suggested the permanent employment of locally trained therapists who, despite international training, often refrain from working in the valley due to the lack of proper infrastructure and job security.
