National-level initiative imperative

As the government, especially the health experts have already sounded alert on the rising drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir, a startling revelation has come to the fore, claiming that over 13 per cent of the people involved in drug and substance abuse in India are below 20 years. The claim was made by an official of the United Nations at the International Forum on ‘Children Matter-Right to a Drug-Free Childhood’. It has come as a shocker to the whole country as the statements indicate the bleak future of the country as most of the children, who might have capacity to serve the nation in the future are causing extensive damage to their health, which ultimately leads to the loss of life. The statement has further claimed that nine out of 10 people with drug addiction begin using substances before they are 18 years old, which puts the responsibility on the shoulders of the society to take care of the children in the adult age to ensure that the percentage of the people involved in the drug and substance abuse is reduced. It is the time when community intervention is imperative to bring respite from the prevalent situation. The situation is not different in Jammu and Kashmir, thus the central government has to come up with a national-level initiative against the drug menace and ensure that the people on the wrong path are brought back and the precious lives could be saved.