To equip professionals with practical skills in drug de-addiction and psychosocial interventions, the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir (KU), inaugurated a one-week training program on ‘Psychosocial Interventions in Drug De-Addiction.’ The training is being held under the sponsorship scheme of the Higher Education Department, J&K Government, from March 17 to 21, 2025.

The program aims to address the growing concern of substance abuse by training participants in evidence-based counselling techniques, community outreach strategies, and intervention methodologies. It includes expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and practical exposure to enhance hands-on learning.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in tackling substance abuse at the grassroots level.

“Drug addiction is not just an individual struggle but a deep-rooted societal issue. We need to reach communities, educate people, and work collectively to build a support system that helps in rehabilitation and prevention,” she remarked.

Registrar KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, stressed on the significance of collaborative efforts in addressing addiction.

“De-addiction requires a holistic approach involving medical professionals, counsellors, social workers, and community leaders. This training will indeed empower participants with the right skills to make meaningful contributions to society,” he said.

In his keynote address, Head, Department of Psychiatry, IMHANS Srinagar, Dr. Mohammad Maqbool Dar, spoke about the alarming rise in substance abuse cases in the valley.

“Drug addiction is a global health crisis and combating it requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. This training will provide participants with the necessary knowledge and methodologies to address addiction effectively,” he said.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Head, Department of Social Work KU, Prof. Shazia Manzoor, underscored the need for a community-centric approach to tackling drug abuse and stated that the program is structured to provide a psychosocial perspective on de-addiction.

The inaugural session also featured the release of the RUSA 2.0 report on skill development programs. The key highlights of the report were presented by Dr. Aadil Bashir, faculty at the social work department KU.

The proceedings of the event were conducted by Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmad, faculty at the Social Work department KU, while Dr. Javaid Rashid, faculty at the Social Work department KU, delivered the formal vote of thanks.