Illicit Drugs Thrive in Jammu and Kashmir, a Danger Brewing from Nearby Borders
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a drug addiction crisis is escalating, with alarming numbers of people struggling with substance abuse. According to recent estimates, over **13.5 lakh people** in J&K are battling drug addiction, including around **1.68 lakh minors aged 10-17**, highlighting a worrying trend among the youth[1][2][4].
Although heroin use has shown a marginal decline in certain areas, there is a noticeable shift towards increasing pharmaceutical drug abuse, indicating a diversification in substance dependency patterns among addicts[4]. This evolution in drug use patterns necessitates adaptive treatment approaches and awareness campaigns to effectively tackle varied substance abuse profiles.
The crisis requires holistic strategies combining healthcare, social initiatives, and law enforcement. The establishment of facilities like the Advanced Centre for Mental Health & Addiction Medicine in Srinagar reflects a rising focus on mental health and addiction medicine to provide rehabilitation and support for those battling addiction[3].
Women, notably in J&K, are actively fighting the addiction epidemic on the grassroots level, suggesting growing civil society involvement and social mobilization to prevent and rehabilitate addicts[2]. Increased attention from government data collection and health experts signals efforts to monitor and address the problem more clinically rather than only through law enforcement[1][2].
However, the large number of addicted minors poses a significant challenge for prevention and rehabilitation strategies, as youth addiction often involves complex social, economic, and psychological factors[1][2]. The shifting pattern from heroin to pharmaceutical drugs requires adaptive treatment approaches and awareness campaigns to tackle varied substance abuse profiles effectively[4]. The scale of the crisis, with over a million addicts, strains available healthcare and social support infrastructure, making comprehensive outreach difficult.
Addressing narco-terrorism is crucial not only to stem drug addiction but also to weaken the financial base of terrorist groups in J&K. Historically, in regions like J&K, narco-terrorism often involves drug trafficking networks that finance terrorism and insurgency activities. Heroin trafficking in this region has been known to fund militant groups, which complicates the drug addiction problem by intertwining criminal-terrorist networks with substance distribution, thereby sustaining both the supply of drugs and violence.
Agencies believe the Line of Control (LoC) is a key entry point for drugs like heroin, brown sugar, and cannabis, with smuggling occurring in unfenced areas in districts like Kupwara, Baramulla, and Jammu border areas like R.S. Pura. NIA findings indicate a robust narco-terror network linked to Pakistan-based terror groups, as shown by large drug seizures and busts. Some drug consignments enter via Punjab and are rerouted to Jammu and Kashmir[5].
In 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Police invoked the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act against notorious drug peddlers. Drones are increasingly used to drop drug consignments, and J&K Police and security forces have escalated their fight against narco-terrorism through property seizures, arrests, and enhanced border surveillance.
Continued integrated efforts involving mental health services, community engagement, and targeted anti-narco-terrorism measures are essential to mitigate this growing epidemic. Tackling narco-terrorism is not only vital to stem drug addiction but also to weaken the financial base of terrorist groups in J&K, thereby lessening the overall impact of violence in the region.
References: [1] The Indian Express (2022) "Drug addiction among minors in Kashmir: 1.68 lakh children estimated to be addicts" [2] Greater Kashmir (2023) "Women in Kashmir leading the fight against addiction" [3] The Tribune (2023) "Srinagar gets advanced mental health centre" [4] Hindustan Times (2023) "Drug addiction crisis in Kashmir: From heroin to pharmaceutical drugs, the shifting patterns" [5] The Times of India (2023) "Narco-terrorism in Kashmir: How Pakistan is funding terror groups"
- The rising focus on mental health and addiction medicine, as shown by the establishment of facilities like the Advanced Centre for Mental Health & Addiction Medicine, can contribute significantly to the holistic health-and-wellness approaches required to address the escalating drug addiction crisis in J&K.
- The sports industry, with its emphasis on fitness-and-exercise and general-news coverage, can play a role in generating awareness and fostering discussions around substance abuse and its impact on individuals and communities, including the growing problem of drug addiction in J&K.
- Nutritionists and health professionals can collaborate with social workers and law enforcement personnel to develop comprehensive rehabilitation programs that cater to the unique mental-health, social, and economic factors associated with youth addiction in J&K, addressing the challenges posed by the large number of addicted minors.
- Acknowledging the interplay between drug addiction and crime-and-justice, government officials and policymakers can implement strategies that address the root causes of substance abuse while ensuring that justice is served in combating narco-terrorism and dismantling criminal-terrorist networks linked to drug trafficking in J&K.
- The progress made in adapting treatment approaches to tackle the diversifying substance addiction profiles, such as the shift from heroin to pharmaceutical drugs, can be studied and applied in other regions grappling with similar drug crises, drawing parallels from lessons learned in war-and-conflicts zones like J&K.
- While it is essential to combat narco-terrorism and weaken terrorist groups financially, it is equally important to invest in sports, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health programs for children and youth to promote overall health, wellness, and resilience, helping to reduce the risk of substance abuse and create a brighter future for the next generation.
