Srinagar, March 28: The government on Saturday announced that it will try to introduce a bill on drug de addiction during the ongoing Budget Session.

Responding to queries raised by MLAs, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Sakina Masood Itoo, said the bill is ready and efforts are being made to table it in the current session.
She said while the police can prevent the spread of drugs, the Health Department is responsible for treating patients affected by substance abuse.
The minister said the Home Department needs to do more to curb the spread of drugs.
“There has been an increase in drug abuse in some areas and a decrease in others,” she noted.
Itoo further stated that the government will not allow private drug de addiction centres to arbitrarily charge patients.
“If there are any such complaints, bring them to the notice of government,” she told MLAs.
The Health Minister said in the last two years 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu has organized 53 camps mostly on every Monday which have covered about 19 Panchayats in District Rajouri. She added that GMC Rajouri has also conducted 5462 Awareness and Counseling programmes (3545 in the year 2024 and 1917 in 2025).
While replying to various supplementary questions, the Minister underlined that the Health department has deployed counselors in each village of Jammu and Kashmir to train former Panchayat members, religious preachers and heads, respectable citizens and others on tackling the menace of drug abuse in the society.
She also highlighted that the Health department is continuously providing treatment, counseling and rehabilitation facilities to drug abuse victims and the domain of law enforcement and conviction is not with the Health department.
The minister added that the government is taking due action against the Drug De-addiction centres run by NGOs if they are violating any rules.