Despite official claims of declining addiction cases, ground realities reveal a deepening crisis marked by stigma, fear and inadequate infrastructure, necessitating urgent and multifaceted strategies
Recently, Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Health & Medical Education, School and Higher Education and Social Welfare, while addressing the Legislative Assembly claimed that since the inception of the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan in September 2022, there has been no observable spike in drug addiction cases across the region. Drawing upon the official statistics, the Minister emphasised a steady decline in registrations at drug de-addiction outpatient departments (OPDs) and new admissions to Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) over the past three years.
At the very first glance, the minister’s statement appears reassuring, instilling public confidence and portraying an image of effective intervention, thereby suggesting that drug addiction is being steadily brought under control. The data presented seemingly reflects that government-led initiatives, awareness campaigns and de-addiction and reintegration programmes, though limited in reach, have produced and are producing measurable outcomes. However, a closer examination of ground-level realities related to substance abuse and addiction in Jammu and Kashmir reveals a disquieting contradiction- one that cannot be dismissed as a mere statistical irregularity.
Paradoxically, the minister too acknowledged a disturbing rise in drug dependency among the region’s youth, but the data cited to project progress failed to capture the scale and evolving nature of the crisis. Neither those in power nor the opposition found the minister’s response reassuring. The reliance on declining registration numbers at ATF centres as a metric of success raises critical and uncomfortable questions that demand immediate attention: If addiction is indeed on the decline, why are law enforcement agencies increasingly intercepting record volumes of narcotics? If fewer individuals are seeking treatment at ATFs, does this reflect a genuine reduction in addiction or does it point to some deeper crisis that is marked by stigma, fear, inadequate infrastructure and a growing mistrust in institutional mechanisms which is resultantly compelling those in need to suffer in silence, rather than to seek help or come under institutional vigil?
In light of the prevailing challenges, it becomes imperative to critically compare the declining de-addiction registration figures with data from the National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). A perusal of these sources suggests that the figures cited by the ministry fail to reflect the true magnitude of the crisis but have ostensibly comforted and silenced the listeners. The narrative of decline appears more reassuring than real, lacking validation through any comprehensive or independent study.
Despite claims of a downturn in addiction cases, Jammu & Kashmir has simultaneously witnessed a sharp rise in drug-related arrests, seizures and trafficking incidents over the past three years. The region has increasingly emerged as a critical transit corridor for high-purity heroin smuggled across international borders which can also be witnessed by seizure records that are now at unprecedented levels. Furthermore, insights from frontline medical practitioners, de-addiction specialists, journalists and field researchers collectively underscore that the decline in reported treatment cases is not indicative of reduced prevalence. Rather, it reflects a deepening crisis of invisibility, where stigma, fear of legal repercussions, social ostracization and the unavailability of accessible, trust-worthy rehabilitation services compel individuals toward secrecy instead of support or to seek support outside the Union Territory. This concealed drug use remains largely beyond the radar of institutional surveillance. The surge in synthetic substances including pharmaceutical opioids, heroin analogues and methamphetamine-based compounds has only exacerbated the crisis. These newer drugs often elude traditional detection and do not align with conventional treatment models, leaving many users undiagnosed, untreated and at heightened risk.
In this context, the assumption that addiction is “under control,” based merely on declining ATF registrations, becomes a dangerously misleading narrative. Jammu and Kashmir, scarred by conflict, now faces a worsening drug crisis that official data fails to reflect. Rising youth overdoses, drug-related crimes and synthetic substance use reveal a grim reality. The growing involvement of women in trafficking and increased fatalities contradict claims of control based on declining treatment registrations. Behind these numbers lies stigma, fear, and lack of access, pushing addiction underground. The drop in reported cases may not show progress, but a deeper, hidden crisis shaped by silence and neglect.
Pertinently, in J&K, addiction is fuelled by historical trauma, conflict and systemic neglect. Youth face inherited legacies of violence, loss, instability and alienation. This isn’t just drug use but it is a symptom of deeper societal damage. Broken family structures, economic despair and weakened support systems have normalised substance use. Peer pressure, glamorised drug culture, poor supervision and lack of safe outlets worsen the crisis. Declining spiritual and communal engagement, once protective, has left many youths exposed. Addiction here reflects not only personal struggle but the broader consequences of unresolved trauma and long-standing socio-political disruption.
Before surveys confirmed the scale of India’s drug crisis, the government launched the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) through the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E). Its goal was to strengthen recovery systems via Integrated Rehabilitation Centres (IRCAs), Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICs) and Community Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI) programs. MoSJ&E identified 461 priority districts, including 381 “gap districts” with poor de-addiction infrastructure. In Jammu & Kashmir, 12 districts comprising Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Doda, Ganderbal, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Shopian and Udhampur were listed as Gap Districts.
Despite identifying facilities and inviting NGOs to run District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) rent-free with full funding, implementation has stalled particularly for Shopian and Poonch. This delay exposes a critical gap between policy intent and on-ground execution. How can addiction be “under control” if essential treatment services remain non-functional? This inertia, coupled with ongoing systemic issues like poor coordination, lack of trained personnel, and weak monitoring, continues to undermine efforts. Without operational centres, long-term reintegration, and structural support, addiction treatment remains inaccessible for many. The lack of urgency not only delays recovery but risks worsening the crisis, hiding it behind selective data while the real needs of vulnerable communities go unmet. Alongside these challenges, several systemic and structural deficiencies continue to undermine progress, including but not limited to the following critical gaps:
- Suboptimal clinical leadership at Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs): Many ATF centres are run by general MBBS doctors, not specialists in Psychiatry or Addiction Medicine. This limits effective diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. Addiction’s complex nature needs expert handling beyond general medical training.
- Acute shortage of trained human resources: Most rehabilitation centres lack qualified specialists, therapists and counsellors, leading to poor outcomes and high relapse rates.
- Enduring social stigma and fear of disclosure: Social shame around addiction prevents individuals from seeking help, leading to isolation, denial and delayed intervention.
- High relapse rates due to absence of continued care: Many individuals who begin recovery fall back into substance use due to the lack of structured, long-term rehabilitation, reintegration and aftercare programs.
- Ineffective outreach and awareness campaigns: While awareness campaigns exist, they have largely failed to penetrate marginalized, rural and vulnerable communities where vulnerability to addiction is often highest. Such poor messaging and disconnect from local realities, is leaving many unaware or unconvinced of available help.
Based on the aforementioned facts and prevailing realities, it is evident that addressing the addiction crisis in Jammu and Kashmir demands a multifaceted, evidence-based strategy rooted in empathy, public health, social reform and law enforcement synergy. The following key interventions are essential to mitigate the escalating substance use epidemic:
- Strengthening District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs):
Ø Engage proactively with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E), GoI, to expedite the establishment and operationalisation of DDACs in the designated gap districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ø Ensure enhanced government oversight, targeted funding and continuous evaluation under NAPDDR and allied schemes to bolster DDAC effectiveness.
Ø Deploy mobile addiction treatment units to expand access for remote and underserved populations affected by substance abuse.
- Combating stigma and promoting treatment-seeking behaviour:
Ø Conduct mass media and in-person awareness campaigns across schools, colleges, workplaces, and religious institutions to dismantle stigma and normalise treatment.
Ø Introduce confidential counselling services and anonymous helplines to facilitate discreet help-seeking without legal or societal repercussions.
Ø Develop community-based peer support networks, leveraging rehabilitated individuals as role models and recovery ambassadors, as envisioned within the DDAC framework.
- Expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation services:
Ø Prioritise recruitment of trained addiction specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and social workers to ensure evidence-based interventions.
Ø Establish long-term rehabilitation facilities and structured aftercare programs to minimise relapse and aid sustainable recovery.
Ø Promote integrative care models that must include:
- Medical detoxification
- Evidence-based behavioural therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and or the like ones
- Holistic and spiritual therapies such as routine prayers, yoga, meditation and art therapy
- Skill-building and livelihood training to foster economic independence and social reintegration
- Strengthening law enforcement and supply reduction mechanisms:
Ø Intensify collaboration between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), J&K Police, Border Security Forces (BSF) and Indian Army to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates.
Ø Leverage AI-based surveillance, predictive analytics, and cyber forensic tools to monitor dark web drug markets and digital trafficking networks.
Ø Conduct regular raids, undercover operations and cross-border intelligence exchanges to neutralise synthetic drug labs and smuggling routes.
- Implementing youth-centric and school-based prevention programmes:
Ø Integrate comprehensive drug prevention education into the school, college and university curricula at all levels.
Ø Establish student counselling cells in educational institutions to identify and support vulnerable and at-risk youth.
Ø Launch alternative engagement avenues such as:
- Community-based sports leagues, cultural events and creative clubs
- Vocational training and entrepreneurial incubation programs to deter drug use linked to unemployment and frustration.
- Tailored interventions for high-risk and marginalised groups:
Ø Provide customised treatment services for specific vulnerable demographics including:
- Conflict-affected youth
- Women involved in substance peddling
- Street children and orphans
- Tribal and nomadic populations
Ø Collaborate with religious and faith-based organisations to extend counselling, support, and rehabilitation outreach.
Ø Encourage family-centred therapy and reintegration programs to rebuild broken social structures and restore familial support.
- Policy reform and inter and intra-governmental coordination:
Ø Enforce stringent monitoring and regulation of pharmaceutical opioids and psychotropic substances, especially regarding over-the-counter availability.
Ø Establish District-Level Addiction Control Boards (DLACBs) to foster coordination among:
- Health& Medical Education Department
- Social Welfare Department
- Law enforcement agencies
- Educational institutions
Ø Expand MoSJ&E’s funding ecosystem to include addiction research grants, innovative treatment models, and rehabilitation infrastructure.
- Leveraging artificial intelligence and forensic science for early detection:
Ø Develop AI-powered predictive models to identify individuals and communities at heightened risk of substance dependency.
Ø Conduct advanced forensic toxicological studies to detect novel psychoactive substances and emerging usage patterns.
Ø Utilize data analytics and digital health records to evaluate the actual impact of de-addiction programs beyond surface-level ATF registrations.
- Enhancing cross-border and international collaboration:
Ø Strengthen bilateral and multilateral intelligence-sharing mechanisms with neighbouring nations—Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and China—to combat heroin and synthetic drug inflow.
Ø Collaborate with international anti-narcotics agencies such as UNODC and INTERPOL to disrupt transnational illicit drug networks.
- Fostering evidence-based research and policy development:
Ø Facilitate longitudinal, ethnographic, and socio-economic studies to comprehensively understand addiction trends specific to Jammu and Kashmir’s unique demographic and cultural landscape.
Ø Bridge the gap between policy formulation and ground realities by integrating contributions from academic researchers, NGOs, forensic professionals, and community organisations.
Ø Use data-driven insights to improve conviction rates in narcotics cases, strengthen legal frameworks, and tailor de-addiction efforts to local needs.
Given the severity of the crisis and data gaps, the following urgent policy steps are recommended to address this growing public health emergency.
- Establish a district-level drug control and de-addiction task force monitored at a Divisional level which shall be comprised of experts from psychiatry, public health forensic science, education, law enforcement and civil society to coordinate and oversee addiction control measures in a unified manner.
- Institutionalize addiction treatment as a public health mandate by mandating addiction screening, referral and treatment as part of routine healthcare delivery, especially at PHC/CHC levels.
- Dedicated budget allocations for research and capacity building by allocating separate funds within MoSJ&E, Health Ministry and UT budgets for addiction-related research, training programmes and digital health infrastructure.
- Incentivise training and retention of de-addiction professionals by offering fellowships, short-term certifications and bonded service models to produce a cadre of addiction-specialised psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.
- Implement real-time monitoring systems (RTMS) by developing an integrated data dashboard (through NIC or state IT cell) for real-time tracking of:
- Patient intake and relapse
- Drug seizure hotspots
- Rehabilitation outcomes and community engagement levels
- Make rehabilitation and reintegration a legal right by recognising the right to addiction treatment and post-recovery reintegration under the ambit of mental health and social welfare legislation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
- Create a unified National registry for substance abuse cases by preventing duplication, ensuring traceability and enabling longitudinal care even in cases of migration or relocation.
- Introduce community-based rehabilitation insurance schemes by partnering with insurers or PM-JAY-like frameworks to ensure financial protection for addiction treatment and long-term rehabilitation.
- Strengthen university-led social research cells by encouraging interdisciplinary research via funding projects in forensic toxicology, ethnographic addiction trends, AI modelling and behavioural therapy innovations.
- Promote regional knowledge exchanges by facilitating regular collaboration between de-addiction professionals in conflict-affected zones, border states and vulnerable belts to share region-specific innovations and success stories.
Thus, from the foregoing analysis and realities on the ground, Jammu and Kashmir faces a critical moment in its fight against drug addiction. The crisis demands a coordinated, evidence-based and community-driven response. Fragmented data and underreporting only worsen the issue. A shift is needed from reactive control to proactive prevention, from isolated efforts to integrated systems. Addiction must be treated as a chronic health and social issue, not a crime. With strong political will, collaboration and community support, J&K can lead in building a scalable, effective model for addiction response.
About the writer
Dr Sami Ullah is a Forensic practitioner and Anthropologist with an MSc and PhD in Forensic Science and an MA in Anthropology. As Co-Founder & Chairman of the RADISAT Foundation, he advocates for Forensic science education, justice reforms and scientific and research advancements in crime investigation and scientific reporting. His expertise spans DNA forensics, Investigative Forensics, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Toxicology including Substance Abuse and Addiction and Interventional Forensics. Passionate about bridging the forensic science gap in Jammu & Kashmir, he works to integrate forensic science into academia, industry, private sector, law enforcement and governance.
Sami Ullah
sa********@***il.com