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Drug abuse has become a serious social challenge in J&K. Every year, authorities, schools, colleges and civil society groups make pledges to fight the growing problem. These commitments are important, but they will have little meaning if they remain limited to speeches, campaigns and photographs.
The fight against drugs needs sustained action. A pledge should lead to measurable work on the ground. Young people who are already struggling with addiction need access to counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. Families also need support because addiction affects the entire household.
Prevention must begin early. Schools and colleges should regularly educate students about the risks of drug abuse. Teachers and parents need to recognise early signs of substance use and know where to seek help. Awareness programmes should be practical and honest. Young people should be given a safe space to discuss pressure, anxiety, peer influence and other problems that can push them towards substance use.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies must continue to target those who profit from the illegal drug trade. The focus should remain on suppliers and organised networks that bring drugs into communities. Action against traffickers must be firm, consistent and based on law.
But enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. A person battling addiction needs treatment, dignity and a realistic path back into society. Rehabilitation centres must have trained staff, proper facilities and follow-up services. Recovery does not end when a person leaves a treatment centre. Continued counselling, family support and opportunities for education or employment can help prevent relapse.
The government must also track the results of its anti-drug programmes. How many people received treatment? How many completed rehabilitation? How many schools conducted regular awareness sessions? How many vulnerable young people received counselling? Such questions matter because public campaigns should be judged by outcomes, not attendance figures.
Society also has a role. Families should avoid hiding addiction because of fear of social stigma. Community leaders, teachers, doctors and youth organisations can help create an environment where people seek help before their situation becomes worse.
A pledge against drugs should therefore mean more than a promise made on a particular day. It should represent a continuing commitment to prevention, treatment, enforcement and rehabilitation.
J&K cannot afford to treat the drug menace as another temporary campaign issue. The cost of delay is paid by young people, families and communities. Every pledge must be followed by action, every action must be monitored, and every programme must be measured by the lives it helps protect.
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