There are many reasons which are leading to drug abuse among youngsters and others of different age groups in Kashmir. To understand those reasons, several studies have been carried out by experts in the field, however, the findings of such studies have not been incorporated into the policies that are framed for curbing the drug menace which is touching new heights with every passing day. Currently, it appears that the administration in sync with the law enforcement agencies is only focusing on breaking the narcotic-supply chain by carrying out raids and arresting the drug peddlers almost every day, but what it is not focusing more on is the question that must make everyone curious: what is leading these youngsters to drug abuse and what is the way out?
A lot is being done and a lot more will be done ahead by the administration to tackle the menace of substance abuse, but it is high time for them to go to the root of the problem and see if they could do anything to set it right at the place where it all begins and spirals out of control, risks lives and leads to the further spread of the menace. The main reason is unemployment, which kills people silently, and those who are too fragile to handle the pressure go a step further and involve themselves in drug abuse. Then there are largely personal reasons. In such cases, counseling all the aggrieved parties would do the job. But the major driving forces would require major policy decisions focused on understanding the root causes and taking comprehensive steps to address the same.
If the Government is truly committed to ending the drug menace in J&K, especially Kashmir—which is witnessing its youngsters lost and directionless—it is necessary to understand what lies behind what is visible to the eyes. Breaking the narcotic-supply chain might yield results, but they will be fleeting. There is undoubtedly more than what meets the eye; it needs to be recognized and understood before the appropriate corrective actions are taken. On the ground, a difference will be made in that way only.
