On this Drug De-Addiction Day, June 26, 2025, Kashmir mourns its youth lost to a relentless drug epidemic. Stories of young lives—like a married man born in 1993, trapped by drugs due to unchecked freedom, or a businessman’s son undone by unaccounted wealth—reveal the human toll of addiction. An elderly neighbor’s alcohol-related death underscores that no age is spared. Yet, the Jammu and Kashmir government, religious leaders, and communities have failed to stem this tide, leaving families to bear the emotional, social, and economic scars in silence.
The government’s inaction is glaring. With 1.35 million drug users in 2023, 90% hooked on heroin, and 72% battling Hepatitis C, the crisis is undeniable. Yet, only two public rehab centers and 19 understaffed Addiction Treatment Facility Centres exist. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, despite seizing 152.18 kg of heroin in 2020, fail to track drug-related deaths transparently, allowing overdoses to be misreported as “natural.” This obscures the crisis’s scale, denying families closure and policymakers urgency. The government must establish a centralized database for drug-related fatalities, expand rehab facilities, and fund youth employment to address root causes like unemployment and despair.
Religious leaders, too, bear responsibility. In Kashmir’s devout communities, they wield influence but often shy away from addressing addiction, fearing stigma. They must lead awareness campaigns in mosques, destigmatizing treatment and rallying families to support recovery. Community elders should form support groups, helping parents like those in my village navigate guilt and grief, preventing further losses.
Families cannot escape accountability. Parents who fail to balance love with discipline, like the mother who gave “extra freedom” or the father who provided endless money, enable addiction. Community education on parenting and early intervention is crucial.
The “Daniels” of addiction—heroin, alcohol—thrive in silence. The government, religious leaders, and families must act: track deaths, expand treatment, and foster accountability. Kashmir’s youth deserve a future, not a funeral. On this day, let us demand action to heal our broken families and save our next generation.
