Srinagar, Feb 20: Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a deepening drug abuse crisis, with over 32,500 patients registered for de-addiction treatment since 2022, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Srinagar and Jammu districts have emerged as the worst affected, recording the highest number of cases.
Replying to a clubbed question by MLAs Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Ali Muhammad Sagar, and Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakena Itoo said that 32,517 patients have been registered at Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) across the Union Territory.
According to the official data, 16,759 patients were registered in the Kashmir division, while 15,758 cases were reported from the Jammu division.
Srinagar, Jammu Lead in Numbers
In the Kashmir division, Srinagar recorded the highest number with 6,100 patients, followed by Anantnag (2,157), Kulgam (2,075) and Baramulla (1,623). Other districts reported comparatively lower figures, including Budgam (1,166), Pulwama (1,312), Bandipora (817), Shopian (713), Kupwara (552) and Ganderbal (244).
In the Jammu division, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu alone accounted for 9,806 registered patients since 2022. Other districts included Kathua (1,529), Rajouri (1,227), Udhampur (968), Ramban (577), Doda (566), Poonch (359), Kishtwar (311), Samba (292) and Reasi (123).
De-addiction Network Expanded
The government said drug de-addiction services are being strengthened under the Health and Medical Education Department and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
At present, ATFs are functional in all districts of the Kashmir division and nine districts of the Jammu division, offering both OPD and IPD services. Kashmir has 11 operational ATFs, including facilities at SKIMS, GMC Bemina Srinagar, GMC Anantnag, GMC Baramulla, GMC Handwara, and district hospitals across multiple districts.
In Jammu division, ATFs are operational at GMC Jammu, GMC Doda, GMC Kathua, GMC Rajouri, GMC Udhampur, and district hospitals in Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban and Reasi. An ATF at District Hospital Samba has been functional on an OPD basis since February 2024.
The Samba facility is sponsored by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of AIIMS New Delhi, and provides psychiatric consultations, counselling, addiction treatment and free medicines, the government said.
No New Centres Planned
Responding to queries on Pulwama and Samba, the government clarified that there is no proposal at present to establish new drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in these districts. However, it said the Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre at Bajwani village in Tral (Pulwama) is already functional and catering to patients.
The disclosure has once again highlighted the alarming scale of substance abuse in J&K, underlining the urgent need for prevention, awareness and sustained rehabilitation efforts across the region.
