Drug Abuse in the Valley

Dr. Hamida Jan
There are day to day changes in the society and so are the norms. Sometimes these changes abolish the past to the extent that the future generations do not believe about its real historical perspective as they cannot remember the past. These changes are going on and our Kashmiri society is turning into big spiral of social evils now and one of such social evils is the drug abuse.
The topic of drug abuse is of diversified importance in the whole world. It poses a great threat to the humanity and to the whole society. It is increasing day by day and is one of the public challenges apart from the devastating consequences for the users and social disintegration of the family and community among other things. The drug trafficking and abuse leads to various types of violence and criminalities which include several political and economic dislocation of society and the economy also. It seriously affects the sociopolitical order and economic security of many state of our country. It also encourages many corruptions in states where public earning is low and illiteracy and unemployment is high.
Now, the selective use of drugs, have increasing abuse and dependence. The main connection of drug use and abuse to crime is the illegal purchase and use of narcotic drugs. Many of these drugs have short and long term affects ranging from pleasant feeling to damaging the body organs and causing physical and mental illnesses. Indiscriminate use of drugs becomes dangerous and produces gradually physical, mental and moral deterioration of the abuser. Women drug abusers practice prostitution as a means of obtaining money for drugs. Drugs makes the abusers physically, and psychologically dependent on the drugs when they feel un-comfortable urge for it.
Under the influence of drugs, the abuser shows several minor or major impulsive behavior e.g. telling lies, cheating, violence's, robbery, rapes, kidnapping even murders etc. In fact the fun and curiosity to experience with drugs may graduate them to drug addiction
Drug abuse produces a disease by affecting almost all the systems of the body and produces a complex syndrome which not only cripples the life of abuser but also poses serious problems to the society and to the nation as a whole.
The addiction of drugs has been growing fast in Kashmir since last two decades. Ethical issues to the treatment of a person with drug abuse are not the same as in the treatment of any other disease. While getting into the trap of drug abuse is very simple and easy, but the process of getting out of it is a complicated and painful process. Addiction has a deep impact on the individual. It not only affects the body and mind but also atrophies the family and social relationships of the abuser too. The Drug Addiction entangles the abuser in his own web and they are the persons who do not want to face the reality of situation. The health, the relations and their duties will suffer as the drug seeking behaviour will advance.
Preventive education, law enforcement clinical treatment alone is not enough to stop the drug abuse. Thus tackling the drug addiction efficiently needs a sincere and holistic approach and treatment Team work where, Doctor's friends, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselor's, social workers, home people and other supportive persons have to come together to pull the victim (addict) out of addiction. It provides and prescribes an important insight into the common pitfalls and the basic personality disturbances which are the root cause responsible for the abuser's addiction.
Negative Impact on Development, infact, drug abuse control is more important than the health education, employment, justice and protection of basic human rights. Its rising links to poverty, illiteracy, unemployment are clear. For our developing country the burden is quite heavier than the resources that need to be spent in health care. Social and sincere criminal justice system should deal with drug abuse control and trafficking which is most important. Prospects for the bright future remains hazy and dim as long as illicit drug abuse is allowed to dominate! The economic and social life of the people gets badly affected. An integrated approach should be evolved by trained experts and specialists from different fields like psychosocial, economic enforcement, medical fields who can help tackling this multi dimensional disease of drug abuse at their respective levels.
The rising incidences of unstable broken homes, unhealthy and negative parental attitudes, increasing behavioral disorders, due to poverty of love and affection and a desire for temporary excitement with friends may hurt them to experiment with drugs and get hooked to it.
Now the production, trafficking and consumption have reached to peek with the availability of all types of drugs from street peddlers, vegetable and fruit sellers' tea shops, gyms, in fact from anywhere or any place depending upon the demand. No amount of constrains or checks by the enforcement agencies could dismantle the supply network which is facilitated by mobile phones etc.
Dangerous methods for using these drugs ranging from tablets, syrups, powers, creams, injections, inhalation's have developed along with the increase of abuse and there is also increase of problems caused by addiction which include not only the physical, psychological, medical abuses  but also drug related  crimes, work place absentees causing productivity losses , family dysfunction, violence against women and children etc. The HIV AIDS infective Hepatitis among the I.V. drug users and their changing style in relation to their high risk behavior and its severe consequences; their families undergo another cause of concern for the society.
Apart from economic burden the problem of social and health issues affect both the Abuser and the society in general The impact of illicit drug trade becomes evident by rising consumption of abuse which leads to 2 to 4 times increase in accidents and at workplace absentees in job 2 to 4 times higher among the drug users than non users. This rising drug abuse among the youth of our country is involving with serious short  and  long term socio-economic implication, wide-spread drug abusing culture imposes a social, economical and unhygienic burden on the people which no Society can bear or neglect anymore unlike the past ,the substance abuse or misuse is associated with unemployment, poverty which leads to do unlawful things or deeds or become criminals, victims of rape or other violent assaults which in turn warns of crime; the risk of violence  and victimization  to obtain  drugs. The drug abusers are not the only one who suffers from the social effects of its abuse but their Spouses, their children, are also at the increased risk of neglect and abuse by their drug abusing parents. The high risk of drug abuse exists among the children of drug addict parents, a fact that appears to have both environmental as well as genetic influences.
A high degree of motivation is essential for the success of any intervention programme as the consequences of addiction may be varied and may cause immense problems to others e.g. family relatives, neighbors, friends etc.
Comprehensive management of drug abuse requires a medical, and non-medical as well as hospital and non hospital sitting by person with different trainings and backgrounds.
The J&K is the one state of India which is underdeveloped of which Kashmir is one province. Un-employment and poverty are the grave problems in this province which are also the two causes of drug abuse. The nature of the drug abuse has affected the socio- economic and health status of the affected families very badly. The H.N.S.S Drug De-Addiction cum Rehabilitation Centre located near Shiraz Road-Victory Crossing H.N.S.S Lane Mira Masjid Khanyar Srinagar is taking various measures to eliminate and eradicate it, but a single sparrow cannot make summer. Similarly our single H.N.S.S De-Addiction Centre cannot fight alone against the Drug-Addiction menace in Kashmir province. Everybody at individual level, at Personal community, society, print and electronic media as well as government should exercise its sincere approach for awareness, education and motivation among common people and youth of the valley.
The writer is Chairperson H.N.S.S De-Addiction Centre Mira Masjid H.N.S.S Lane Victory Crossing Khanyar Srinagar Kashmir