SRINAGAR Drug addiction is widespread, fast-rising and is quickly taking the form of an epidemic in the Jammu and Kashmir, according to the governments draft of the de-addiction policy which has been made public.
Jammu and Kashmir, despite being in the transit route of Golden crescent remained devoid from the problem of addiction for long. However, we can no longer share this optimism as the state has seen a steep rise in the burden of physical, mental and substance-use disorders over the past two decades, the document reads.
Studies conducted in recent years, it says, have shown an alarming shift in the pattern of substance use in terms of rise in the number of female users, decreasing age at first-use, increasing use of solvents, injectable opiates as well as increasing drug related deaths (over- dose and accidents).
When it comes to mortality and morbidity from substance use, a regular and ever-increasing contribution comes from the legal substances, i.e. alcohol and tobacco. The menace of drug addiction is widely spread, fast rising and is quickly taking the form of an epidemic. It has been said that places where a bus cannot go, the deadly drugs reach! Scientific data based on community surveys on drug related problems in Jammu and Kashmir show that deaths have started occurring directly due to over dosages, convulsions, and cardiac arrests and indirectly road traffic accidents.
No wonder, drug over-dose is quickly becoming a common emergency in our hospitals. Drug addiction, unfortunately, does not come alone. It brings with it shame, violence, crime, destruction of individuals and families, accidents and death. It is rendering our youth unproductive causing slow and painful death of a nation. The problem we are dealing with is complex because it affects all the facets of one’s personality and renders the person dysfunctional and a burden for the family and community.
Over the years, drug addiction has become an area of gross concern. Our society had remained free of this menace for many centuries. However, times have changed and so have social benchmarks, moral values and economic avenues.
The disintegration of family norms, strains of living a reasonable life in a rapacious world, struggle for existence in a competitive society have all destroyed the basic supportive framework of the society, it says.
Drug abuse in the last few years has increased manifold and is fast proving malicious to the society by causing physical, psychological, and intellectual decay.
There has been increased morbidity and mortality, enhanced crime rates, decreased productivity and wastage of economic potential of young generation, it says.
Religious beliefs are important protective factors. Involve religious and spiritual leaders by highlighting that promotion of substance use prevention activities is already in line with their preachings, the draft policy says.
Drug de-addiction centers should be integrated with the main hospitals to facilitate de-stigmatization of treatment process that occurs when centres are established in isolation.
From our past experiences with the process of treatment and our efforts towards eradication of previously stigmatized diseases like Tuberculosis and Leprosy, we have learnt the lesson that isolation leads to increased stigmatization and feelings of shame and exclusion, which impedes case finding and makes treatment difficult, let alone eradicating the disease. Therefore, we strongly recommend that the de-addiction centres be integrated with the hospitals not only functionally but also geographically.
The draft police has also asked for enforcement of prohibition on cultivation of illicit crops like poppy and insisted on providing education to farmers on alternate crops in liaison with experts from departments of agriculture and horticulture.
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