Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 17: As authorities intensify their crackdown on drug peddlers across Jammu and Kashmir, medical experts and addiction specialists have underlined that enforcement alone will not be enough to tackle the growing menace of substance abuse. They said families and society must play a central role in prevention and recovery.
Doctors said that the tightening of action against drug networks is likely to disrupt supply chains, which could push many dependent individuals into withdrawal and, consequently, towards seeking treatment.
“It is highly appreciable that the authorities have tightened the screws on peddlers. This is likely to reduce supply and increase treatment-seeking among patients who go into withdrawal,” said Dr Nizam-ud-Din, Associate Professor at the Advanced Centre for Mental Health and Addiction Medicine, SKIMS MCH Bemina.
However, he said the success of such measures depends largely on how families and communities respond. “Family and society are the first point of contact and can play a vital role. The need of the hour is an empathetic approach—understanding these individuals as patients rather than offenders and encouraging them to seek treatment at Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATF) in their respective districts,” he said.
Dr Nizam-ud-Din added that enhanced family and social support not only helps in harm reduction but also prevents patients from shifting to other harmful substances or pharmaceutical drugs in the absence of narcotics.
Echoing similar views, Dr Aadil Ahmad, a medical officer at an ATF in south Kashmir’s Shopian, described family involvement as a cornerstone of recovery. “Family support is not optional—it is essential. Patients who receive emotional, psychological and moral backing from their families show far better recovery outcomes,” he said.
He said that addiction often isolates individuals, and reassurance from loved ones can significantly influence their willingness to quit.
“The reassurance that they are not alone, that their families believe in them, often becomes the strongest motivation to overcome addiction,” Dr Aadil said. He urged parents to stay vigilant, maintain open communication with their children, and educate them about the dangers of substance abuse.
Experts called on society at large to shed stigma and adopt a compassionate outlook toward those battling addiction. Addiction should be viewed through the lens of empathy, not judgment, they said, adding that only then will affected individuals feel safe enough to seek help without fear of social exclusion.
Doctors stressed the urgent need to establish Indoor Patient Department (IPD) facilities in every district. They pointed out that severe cases often require medically supervised detoxification and continuous monitoring, which is not currently available everywhere.
They further called for strengthening infrastructure, manpower, and outreach, saying that with proper facilities, ATF centres can significantly scale up their impact.
In addition to treatment, experts called for preventive strategies, particularly through education. They called for large-scale awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, where teachers and preachers can play a proactive role in identifying early warning signs of substance abuse and guiding students toward counselling.
According to a report by the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated 14 lakh drug users, including over 5 lakh opioid users. Disturbingly, around 95,000 children in the 10–17 age group are reported to be affected.
Without collective action involving families, communities, healthcare providers, and authorities, the fight against drug addiction cannot be won, doctors said.
