By Sudhir Kumar : Drug abuse is a growing concern in Srinagar which needs to be addressed immediately to curb and minimize the denigration affect of society. Kashmir which is called the Paradise of India should make all efforts to overcome this social evil. Drug Addiction is progressive and goes through distinctly detrimental stages. However collective efforts can control the menace and only solution to the problem.
According to a survey there are more than two lakh drug abusers in Kashmir including women which are presumed to be more than four thousand. One of report has mentioned that about 20% of students in higher secondary school and 30% in colleges are consuming illicit drugs. However United Nations International Drug Control Programme Survey in 2008 stated that there are more than 70,000 drug addicts in Kashmir. Survey also mentioned that more than 70 % of addicts fall in the 18-35 age groups.
As per another report Govt. Psychiatric Hospital treat 2000 patients in a year with drug related problems and 90 per cent patients are within age group of 17-35 years.
After going through the report and survey the most alarming factor is that the largest consumption group are younger generation which is the most productive and constructive lot of society. The alarming factor is involvement of women, especially girls. Their digression from real objective of society has no substitute since their unproductivity is a great loss of family in terms of all aspects of society. It has been making a hole in fabrics of family as well as society including economic and cultural aspects.
Drug abuse among younger generation is generally responded against improper socialization and protest as separation from main stream values and this is also being supported by peer group. It also includes unresolved dependency, needs escapism, low self-esteem, compulsiveness and a lack of internal control. Drug is also thought to lead to reduction in fear, stress, conflicts, anxiety and drug dependency may be a functional adaptation of the individual in a personal sense despite serious adverse consequences in other areas.
Drug abuse is closely related to another various threat to our society. Drug addicts are driven to do unlawful and harmful activities. It cannot be denied that drug abuse plays a vital role in increasing crime rate, suicides, road accidents, psychiatric disorders, violence in home, divorce, dampening the progress and development of society. Once a person indulges in any unlawful activities there is a loss for future.
In fact it is also proved that drug addicted people are highly vulnerable and considered as the main cause of rise in HIV. Experts have already opined that there are less chances of HIV transmission during sexual intercourse as compared to drug addiction where virus enters directly into the blood stream and infects the immune system of a person.
Keeping in view of the prevailing drug situation in Kashmir. It is not a right time to blame policy makers and govt. organisation forgetting our responsibility. We cannot keep waiting for miracle which is not going to happen. Being fabric of social structure it is the duties of all segments of the society including political, social, religious, NGOs, Industrialist, individuals to come forward and shoulder the responsibilities to curb the drug abuse and fight against this evil to make a constructive and strong society. No society and country has developed so far without the collective efforts of whole society.
Educating our society on various aspects of drug addiction and making them aware will definitely help more than expectations. The family is the only component who can impact strongly on children to protect from these dangers. It is the family who can observe the changes in behaviour at initial stage and only their awareness can recoup or mend the deviation at early stage.
In this context, role of J&K Police is highly appreciated who lit a light in this direction in Srinagar. It’s continuous efforts towards intervention programs in all highly affected areas of the valley in Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramula have contributed a lot towards its objective. Drug Addiction Centre at police control room, Srinagar is being managed efficiently by qualified staff and attracting the attention of all those who are involved in this field.
Central Reserve Police Force also understood the need of time and considering its social and moral responsibility helped to established Drug De-Addiction cum Rehabilitation ‘’RAAHAT‘’ near Gousia Hospital, Khanyar, Srinagar in 2008 . RAAHAT is being managed by All J&K youth welfare organization (NGO). CRPF has always been extending its help to run the centre from time to time. Joining hand in awareness drive ,CRPF has observed Drug de-addiction awareness week in last week of March 2012 . During that week all units under Srinagar sector were directed to aware people in general and displayed hoarding against use of drugs. With the help of NGO, Drug de addiction awareness programme was conducted in various schools and pamphlets were also distributed.
Drug addiction treatment includes educating our students, family and society on various aspects of drug addiction. It is bound to have a beneficial impact to curb the menace. We have to ensure our educational system is also practically oriented and meaningful, laying stress on character formation to face difficulties and tackle life problems. Parents can prevent their children from addictions by providing their children the love they require along with a combination of mentor, counsellor, guide and a teacher. However, in case of uneducated parents and orthodox societies, the role of media, NGOs, religious groups, school teachers and social workers are significant and meaningful.
We should understand that the govt. is fully alive and aware about the urgency of this problem but due to some constraints and other issues only focus on this part is not possible in developing countries and only blaming the govt. after shrinking from our responsibilities will lead to more serious problems in the future. This is the right lesson for us that Prevention Is Better Than Cure.