There are various reasons for increasing drug abuse
While men are mostly seen taking drugs due to their availability, women on the other hand in the Kashmir valley are also falling for drug-addiction in their bids to ease trauma faced due to domestic violence.
Saima Bano (name changed), a resident of Srinagar, was married in 2018. But things started getting uneasy for her as she had to face mental and physical torture from her husband for dowry. She landed at her parents’ home several times with bruises on her body.
“He would beat me up and easily lose his cool. Then in 2021, things became unbearable for me and I returned to my parents and then got divorced,” she said in a broken voice.
She was mentally disturbed and tried to end her life several times. After which, one of her friends advised her to take some drugs that would ease her stress and anxiety. “I first snorted a small amount of drugs. Then I shifted to injecting heroin. For over a year, I put my parents in deep trouble. They stood by my side and did not lose their hope. Today, due to my parents’ efforts, I managed to quit drugs. I am now taking counseling sessions for several months,” she added.
Kashmir’s well known women’s rights activist and mediator Ezabir Ali said, “In my work with women, there are many cases of domestic violence that have come to light and are being reported due to the aftermath of this addiction. Previously, we used to see painkillers and cannabis users, but now unfortunately, there are reports of thousands of syringes being used to inject heroin by drug abusers in the valley on a daily basis.”
According to her, there are various reasons for increasing drug abuse in the valley. Unemployment, the loss of job opportunities due to Covid’s impact, and the abnormal situation in Kashmir, which has led to a life of uncertainty and frustration are some of the triggers that have led to drug addiction in both men and women.
As a recommendation, Ezabir Ali suggested that efforts at drug prevention should be made in schools, workplaces, community centers, and families to communicate a healthy abstinence-based lifestyle. Youth should be an essential part of the prevention efforts.
Medical practitioners in the valley also believe in the urgency of raising voices against the easy availability of drugs. “We need to raise our voices against drug addiction, including its supply, and make people aware of its consequences,” said Dr Yasir Rather of IMHANS-K.
He further highlighted how drug addiction is prevalent among educated as well as uneducated ones. Although youth are more involved with drugs, there are also people in their 50s who consume drugs and devastate themselves and their families.
Similarly, Abid Bhat, a sociologist, suggested that society take a multi-pronged approach to drug eradication and be more supportive rather than stigmatising drug addicts. “Parents must remain alert to any behavioural change among their children. Even if any child has tried drugs, parents should not be harsh on them but instead counsel them. Besides, if there is a drug addict in a family, people don’t want to keep any ties with that family,” Abid said.
“Preachers and social leaders must also raise voices for eradication of drugs,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Police claim to be taking active measures to stop the drug menace in the Union Territory. Dilbagh Singh, the Director General of Police of J&K, recently said that the police are active in dealing with narcotics. According to police records, 815 FIRs were registered in 2021 in drug related cases in J&K. During 2022, 1021 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and 1685 drug peddlers were arrested.
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(The writer is an independent journalist from Jammu and Kashmir: Charkha Features)
