Introduction

Drug abuse is the patterns &chronic use of a drug in which the person consumes the drug in large amounts or by ways which are very hazardous for him and others .
Drug addiction is defined as the continued compulsive use of drugs inspite of their adverse health ,social &emotional consequences .Once a person becomes addicted to drugs he loses his control over drug use &often become isolated from family and friends .

Drug addiction in J&K

Acc.to @nddtc-aiims survey of AIIMS New Delhi total number of drug addicts has reached 10 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir 2 yrs back.
The use of drugs have been discovered in various forms
1).Cannabis Users :
Male =108000,Females=36000
2) .Opioids :
Male =534000,Female =8000
3).Sedatives :
Male =160000,Females =8000
4:Inhalants :
Male=127000,Female =7000.
As per a Published and UNDCP data there are 70 K drug addicts in valley and among which 10% are woman,60 to 70% of which r students,90% abusers belong to age group of 72 to 35 as per Gourmet psychiatrist disease hospital statistics. A Paper published by abuse, Division of epidemiology and research suggested dead the child is more well vulnerable for drug addiction .
Besides a large no.of males and females were found addicts of cocaine ,Amphetamine type stimulants and Hallucinogens .
The high risk factors were:
1).Aggressive behaviour in school Leading to rejection by peers.
2).Social situation like divorce of parents.
3).Unemployment.
4).Academic performance pressure by the family.
Others were unemployment and the most ignored was relationship problems, especially among the young youth.
A study reveals various factors as:
1).Unemployment
2).Changing cultural values
3).Increasing economic stress
4).Violent conflicts

Kashmir the situation is more complex with 2 the decades of conflict & Social and political issues related to that.
Kashmir has been in turmoil through last two decades that resulted in an increase in psychiatric, Psychosocial and physiological disturbances. Number of psychiatric disorders have emerged among the young generation of J&K like depression, OCD, PTSD and drug addiction.
During the camping and various medical workshops in valley the rise of drug addiction has took 4 fold. Among the young generation the drug addiction has shown rise In age groups of 20 to 35 years old.
The recent increase In the crime rate in valley After investigations were directly and outcome of drug addiction. Couple of days ago When a heart Bursting incident took place in Sopore valley . This very agonising act done by a son and murdered his mother. After a full investigation was done by police The son was declared as drug addicted .This shameful act left all Kashmir valley in gruesome.
During psychiatric study interacted with various patients and among all I was surprised when a mail with only age of 22 years old was admitted in the department of the psychiatry. After the proper case history was taken patient was declared as drug addict with the substance use cannabis. The state of patient was so much disturbing that all made to pen down the script. Patient was unable to trust anyone, exclusively laughing with himself, unable to recognise guardians, restlessness, and insomnia. Patient Used to remain alone for months .Another study done by various colleagues During the year psychiatry clinical postings a data data Collected showed Fearful numbers , among 10 patients admitted in ward The 6 were drug addict. This menace Is troubling the public mostly the girls r being targeted. The day by day increase in the Eve teasing, harassing and sexual abuse .Parents in Kashmir valley r trying to fill every void of their Beloveds. Whole Kashmir Is this time struggling with this destruction as every nick And notch of Ruler areas Got Infected with this virus.
How to Overcome :
This grim Picture of substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir valley has put a lot of challenge for general and for government agencies , non-governmental organizations in particular. Biggest challenge is illegal trafficking and sale of drugs. As many reports have evolved that large number of opioid cultivation going on in the valley.
The public has to Work in corporation with police to eradicate such places. The awareness among illiterate youth is The need of hour . The Syllabus of Jammu and Kashmir should include the topics on drug addiction from 7th class its these buds Who will change the mindset of their elders .The village level Drug de addiction Centres need to be started. More and more health workshops to be conducted. The over the counter medications should be totally prohibited. As the youth of J&K solely take drugs by their own which I personally think is the precursor for Taking later the Drugs which even doctors are unable to prescribe unless Needed .The Educational institutes and NGOs and other social work institutes need to educate people especially young generation. Also Masjid Sharif committees should be also informed and stimulated for doing Mohalla level programs.
“Drug addicts often feel isolated and sense of Alienation , so providing them certain kind of social and moral support help them and make them more empowered to get over this problem.

Email:----------------ubaidbukharisyed @gmail.com