Opinion | Drug addiction among the youth of kashmir valley. Leave now or Suffer Later!

Farhat Wani

Drug abuse in Kashmir is said to be taking a heavy toll on youth especially on students and unemployed youth in the the valley. Drugs fuel a life of addiction and crime especially among the youth.

The strange fact is kids of 9-12 years have already started consuming tobacco whereas Kids as young as 13, even 14, are said to be turning to drugs. It starts off as an experimental thing and in most cases, turns into a dangerous habit. One might does not realize at the early stage that when the usage of drugs might turn into an addiction and the moment it becomes an addiction it is very late.

The youth has become the target of major drug peddlers. These peddlers sell drugs and package them as symbols of revolution and freshness but have no regard for the consequences of their actions. The youth that takes to drugs are more likely to commit suicide because of the harmful effects of the drugs they are taking. Misinformation about drugs is another reason for these deaths as the addict or user may take the drugs in wrong doses, which can then lead to a fatality.

The drug problem in Kashmir Valley is getting extremely serious, The situation is grave in every part of Kashmir valley. Drug addiction is a curse for any person because it not only spoils but destroys a life. Youngsters are innocent and they thoroughly need a right guidance, moral education and a healthy environment at their homes, schools and workplace. Parents, teachers, religious heads and elders should always be empathetic and communicative with the youngsters so that they can easily talk out their issues and feelings, all they need is a good listener and a guide who can hold their hands and show them the right path. If the youngsters are secured and they know that they have some trustworthy people in their lives with whom they can freely express their feelings and problems, then there is no scope for any wrong way to intervene in their minds and life.

Unless serious measures are taken now, the very future of a large chunk of today’s youth will be severely compromised. The problem of drug addiction is too real and serious to be ignored. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir need to involve communities, media and religious heads, NGO’s, Civil Society in highlighting the perils associated with the drug addiction. Media & religious heads have a responsibility to highlight such issues with a view to educating people and building a consensus among them to forge a united stand against such scourges. The perpetrators of doom and gloom are well entrenched in the power structures and have formed transnational partnerships for their nefarious purposes. The response to deal with such an organized menace should also be concerted for effective output. Individual efforts cannot produce desired results. For long have we have turned a blind eye to such critical issues. It is now time to be responsible in our actions.