Srinagar (Jammu Kashmir): A large number of youngsters from the Kashmir valley, otherwise known for its scenic beauty, are slipping into the dark alleys of drug addiction. While earlier, hashish was a favourite drug, heroin has taken its place recently. Doctors at the Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (IMHANS), a drug de-addiction centre based in Srinagar, claim that in the last three years, there has been a steep rise in patients who visit the centre for de-addiction. While 489 patients came for treatment in 2016, 7420 patients came in 2019 and in 2020, 3536 patients visited the centre.
Doctors claim that "the reason for the decline in the number of patients in the year 2020 is apparently due to the restrictions imposed after the pandemic and the number in 2019 is till the historic decision of August 5 was taken by the centre.
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Meanwhile, a study on drug use in Kashmir, "Patterns of Prevalence of Substance Use and Dependence in Kashmir: Special Focus on Opioids", reveals that heroin is the most widely used drug in the two districts of the Valley. Opioids are used as painkillers, but they are also being used as drugs and are most commonly used in Srinagar and Anantnag.
Recently, DIG North Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Sujit Kumar, quoting the Qur'an, urged the youth to stay away from drugs. Referring to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said that Surah 5, verse 90 of the Qur'an mentions that drugs are Haram and are forbidden. This type of appeal for quitting drugs is, however, not new. Many government and non-government organizations, religious experts have been urging the people against drugs for a long time, but their use is still on the rise.
Why is drug use on the rise?
Dr Muzaffar Khan, the Director, Police's de-addiction Center, said that there are three main reasons for the rise in abuse. The first is peer pressure. Second, most drug addicts have some personal issues. And the third reason is that the innocence and misunderstandings among the youth about the drugs, he said. "No one gets addicted to drugs overnight. The first week is very important. If the patient comes to us during this time, he can be saved on time as it takes less time. After this period, it gets difficult to give up drugs. However, even then, there is a cure," he added.
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Sharing an experience, Dr Khan said: "A patient came to us who didn't even know that he had an accident and his bones were broken, but today he is living a good life working in our department and earning bread and butter for his family." "When people bring their loved ones to us as patients, they have tears of sorrow in their eyes and when they take them back they have tears of joy," he added.
