The central government has revealed that 5.4 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir are addicted to opioids and 1.44 lakh to cannabis.
This information was revealed by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A. Narayanaswamy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, 1.87% percent of males (estimated 108000) and 0.69% of females (estimated 36000) are addicted to cannabis. While 9.21% percent of males (estimated 534000) and 0.16% of females (estimated 8000) are addicted to opioids,” the statistics revealed by the minister revealed.
It stated that in J&K, over 2.27% of males (estimated 16000) and 0.16% of females (estimated 8000) are addicted to sedatives.
The statistics further reveal that 0.01% of males (estimated less than 1000) and the same amount of females are addicted to cocaine while 0.03% of males (estimated 2000) and 0.1% of females are addicted to Amphetamine Type stimulants (ATS) in Jammu and Kashmir.
“About 2.19% of males (estimated 127000) and 0.14% of females (estimated 7000) are addicted to Inhalants. Adding that, he said 0.02% of males (estimated 1000) and the same number of females are addicted to Hallucinogens in Jammu and Kashmir,” the statistics further revealed.
There has been surge in drug abuse cases in Jammu and Kashmir in last few years.
The union minister informed the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) which is an umbrella scheme under which financial assistance is provided to 'State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts, Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs, etc.