The Jammu and Kashmir state is prepared to create a “task force,” enlist volunteers, and rope in religious clerics to tighten the noose around the exploding growth of pharmaceutical companies, believed to be the cause of the rising rate of “drug addiction.”
According to official sources who spoke to Rising Kashmir, the Health and Medical Education Department is planning to constitute a team of experts which includes medical professionals, academics, clinical scientists, and members of civil society to examine the operation and efficacy of the pharmaceutical firms that have sprung up in J&K over the years. They further added that the government has taken seriously the rising number of drug abuse cases and the accessibility of drugs.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health Services (Kashmir) expressed concern about the rising drug use and described the statistics as frightening on a whole new level.
“Community members can alert the Drug Control Department if there are complaints about any medical store providing such drugs without appropriate recommendations. But people don’t come forward,” said Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad, director of health services.
Doctors believe that the mushroom growth of pharmaceutical agencies across the valley is also a reason for increasing drug addiction cases. It is said that the drugs like Corex, Alprax and Rexcop are easily found in cities and towns and in the villages.
“If the suggestion is put into action, we will applaud the move. It would significantly aid in regulating the flow of drugs. It is imperative to deal with the problem directly. It is a societal and moral issue,” said Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad, who heads de-addiction Centre.
It may be worth mentioning here that the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a conglomerate of several socio-religious organisations, have earlier expressed concern over the rise in drug misuse and suicide cases in Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, the MMA spokesperson had said the drug abuse, domestic violence, family disputes and the rising graph of suicides was a cause of great pain and anguish.
