Bhatnagar e-inaugurates survey on prevalence of drug addiction in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 15: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar Tuesday e-inaugurated a survey about the prevalence of drug addiction in Kashmir to be undertaken by Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) to be held Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
While speaking during the inauguration of the survey, Advisor Bhatnagar said that drug addiction is a grave issue in our society and this survey will help us in knowing the exact burden of the problem and help us in management of this serious issue.
Complimenting the department for taking up the initiative, the Advisor remarked that UT administration led by Manoj Sinha is working with a prime objective of establishing drug-free Kashmir.
“We have to see that the supply chain mechanism is broken and those affected are brought back to the social fabric as healthy and productive individuals,” Advisor Bhatnagar said.
While highlighting about the effects of drug abuse on society, Advisor Bhatnagar said that we should not discriminate with people who are drug addicts rather we should deal them with love and care to get them back.
“Drug addiction is a big criminal industry which is destroying our society in terms of social values and draining the economy as well,” Advisor Bhatnagar said.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, while speaking on the occasion gave details of the project and explained the methods of this survey to held under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
The Director said that DHSK will conduct the survey in collaboration with GMC Srinagar, GMC Anantnag and GMC Baramulla and the project will be funded by the Social Welfare Department of Kashmir.
The Director added that DHSK has envisioned the scenario where there should be no treatment gap in the mental health and addiction treatment delivery.
“In this direction we established 5 ATF’s in record time. Till now, around 1,000 youth suffering from substance use problems were treated at these centres,” he said.
Dr Mushtaq said they are working in collaboration with IMHANS Srinagar to make patient registers for people suffering from substance use problem.
“DHSK in collaboration with IMHNAS is conducting this survey to estimate the prevalence of substance use in all 10 districts of Kashmir to assess the problem,” he said.
The Director also remarked that figures from this survey will help us in developing future course strategy to be adopted to manage this growing epidemic in the region.