Confronting the Drug Crisis in Kashmir with Resolve, Empathy, and Collective Action

Credit By: MIR ALTAF

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• 29 Apr 2026

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Kashmir today finds itself in the grip of a crisis that is far more insidious in its impact. Drug and substance abuse, once dismissed as a marginal concern, has quietly grown into a full-blown societal emergency. With estimates suggesting that nearly 13.5 lakh people in Jammu & Kashmir are affected, i.e. close to one in every ten individuals, this implies that the scale of the problem is too large to ignore and too dangerous to underestimate.

What makes this crisis particularly alarming is not just its spread, but its changing character. The valley has witnessed a decisive shift from traditional intoxicants like cannabis and alcohol to far more addictive and destructive substances such as heroin and synthetic opioids. Nearly 90 percent of users are now reportedly hooked on heroin, marking a dangerous transition that has made addiction more intense, recovery more difficult, and consequences far more severe.

A Generation at Risk

Perhaps the most distressing dimension of this epidemic is its deepening hold on the youth. Tens of thousands of minors, some as young as 10 to 17 years, are already trapped in opioid addiction. The average age of a drug user in the Valley hovers around the late twenties, indicating that the most productive segment of society is being steadily eroded. What should have been Kashmir’s demographic dividend is increasingly turning into a vulnerability.

Treatment centres reflect the urgency of the situation. Institutions like IMHANS Srinagar reportedly handle around 150 cases daily, with a significant number of patients also suffering from associated conditions such as Hepatitis C.

The Economic and Security Dimensions

The drug menace in Kashmir carries a troubling economic and security dimension. It is estimated that a single heroin addict spends close to ₹90,000 per month to sustain the habit. Aggregated across thousands, this translates into a vast illicit economy that thrives on human vulnerability and sustains organised criminal networks.

There is also increasing concern about the convergence of narcotics trafficking with cross-border interests. The possibility that drugs are being pushed into the Valley not merely for profit but also to finance illicit activities and destabilise society adds a deeply disturbing layer. If guns once symbolised overt conflict, narcotics today risk becoming a quieter weapon, eroding the social fabric from within, weakening youth, and dulling the collective capacity for reason and resilience.

The Government’s Shift Towards Systemic Disruption of The Drug Ecosystem

In this context, the recent 100-day campaign launched by the Jammu & Kashmir administration under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan against drug abuse deserves recognition. It marks an important shift towards proactive intervention. The campaign reflects administrative urgency and a willingness to confront the issue through awareness, enforcement, and rehabilitation.

Significantly, the administration has moved towards targeting the financial backbone of the drug trade. Measures such as freezing bank accounts, attaching properties of drug kingpins, and cancelling official documents like passports indicate a transition from surface-level enforcement to systemic disruption. This approach recognises that the drug economy is sustained not merely by users, but by a network of suppliers, financiers, and facilitators. Breaking this chain requires striking at its economic foundations.

The Culture of Silence and Denial

For too long, drug abuse has remained shrouded in silence and stigma. Families often choose concealment over confrontation, fearing social judgment more than the consequences of addiction. This culture of denial has allowed the crisis to grow unchecked, pushing many young individuals into deeper isolation.

The most dangerous aspect of this epidemic is not merely the availability of drugs, but the reluctance to acknowledge their presence within our own homes and communities. As long as addiction is seen as “someone else’s problem,” meaningful intervention will remain elusive. What is needed is a collective awakening; a recognition that this is not a peripheral issue, but an existential challenge demanding societal participation at every level.

Empathy in Treatment & Rehabilitation

Even as enforcement tightens and awareness campaigns gather pace, there remains a critical dimension that must not be overlooked: empathy in treatment and rehabilitation. Addiction is not merely an act of deviance; it is often rooted in pain, trauma, isolation, or a search for escape.

Those struggling with substance abuse are not statistics or outcasts; they are individuals in need of care, dignity, and a chance at recovery. A system that stigmatises them further only pushes them deeper into the shadows, making intervention more difficult and relapse more likely. What is required instead is a compassionate approach; one that combines medical treatment with psychological support, family counselling, and social reintegration.

Empathy, however, cannot remain confined to institutions. It must become a societal ethic. Every family that chooses conversation over condemnation, every community that supports rather than ostracises, and every individual who recognises addiction as a shared crisis contributes to the healing process.

Collective Responsibility: From Households to Institutions

Kashmiri society has historically demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. That same spirit must now be mobilised against this internal threat. At the family level, this means fostering open communication, recognising early signs of behavioural change, and approaching addiction as a condition requiring care rather than condemnation. At the community level, it demands vigilance, cooperation with authorities, and the courage to report peddlers without fear.

Institutions, including schools, colleges, religious bodies, and civil society, must move beyond symbolic awareness campaigns and engage in sustained dialogue, mentorship, and intervention. At the same time, creating meaningful avenues for youth engagement, like skill development, sports, entrepreneurship, and creative platforms, is essential and central to any lasting solution.

The Role of Culture, Poetry, and Expression

In this broader response, Kashmir’s rich literary and cultural tradition offers a unique and powerful resource. Poetry, storytelling, and artistic expression have long served as mediums of reflection and awareness in the region. Where drugs offer escape, literature offers expression. One numbs suffering; the other gives it meaning.

Cultural initiatives such as open-mic poetry sessions, literary gatherings, and youth storytelling platforms can act as spaces of emotional catharsis and social connection. They help break stigma, humanise addiction, and provide alternative identities rooted in creativity and purpose. In this sense, cultural engagement is an essential and humane anti-drug effort.

A Defining Moment for Kashmir

The fight against drug abuse in Kashmir is a test of societal resolve, institutional coordination, and moral clarity. The administration’s 100-day campaign is a crucial beginning, but its success will depend on whether it evolves into a sustained, collective movement.

The truth is stark and unavoidable: if left unaddressed, this crisis will not remain confined to certain sections of society. Sooner or later, it will knock on every door, test every family, and challenge the very fabric of our collective life. The fight against drugs, therefore, cannot be outsourced to others, but it must be owned.

Kashmir stands today at a critical juncture. On one side lies the risk of a generation lost to addiction; on the other, the possibility of renewal through awareness, empathy, and collective action. The real victory will come through restored lives, reclaimed futures, and a renewed sense of purpose among the youth.

(The author is a Kashmir-based educator and can be reached at: miraltaf966@gmail.com)