‘Significant increase’ in-patient drug addiction cases but declining trend overall: J-K Minister

She also claimed that government measures such as expansion of the in-patient department, real-time surveillance and campaigns such as the ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’ launched in September 2022 have helped bring down overall numbers. At the same time, reporting mechanisms and interventions have meant that there was a “significant increase” in the number of drug addicts getting themselves admitted to various hospitals.

“It is a fact that there was an alarming increase of drug addiction among the youth of J&K. But after the initiation of Nasha Mukti Abhiyan in September 2022, as per record, registration of new cases has shown a slight decreasing trend,” she said, adding “there is no evidence of an increase in drug addiction cases”.

Referring to the decrease in number of drug addicts visiting the OPDs, she said that 25,402 drug addicts received treatment at various centres across J&K over the past three years — 9,775 in 2022, 8,702 in 2023, and 6,925 in 2024.

The minister also outlined measures such as a drug de-addiction policy and a committee to monitor its implementation as well as a massive awareness campaign, claiming that the state has introduced real-time surveillance “to track trends and effectiveness of these interventions”.

The reply also pointed out that except for Srinagar, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar and Samba districts, the other districts witnessed a downward trend in drug addiction cases.

However, the minister’s response left neither the Treasury nor the Opposition bench satisfied, with legislators cutting across party lines calling for an experts panel and a House Committee for an in-depth examination of the problem.

Itoo initially opposed further discussion citing her detailed response to the question. However, the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, insisted on a 30-minute debate in the House to allow members present their suggestions in the matter.