Opinion | Community-Led Campaigns Against Drug Abuse in Kupwara

Kupwara is a border district and most popular infiltration route. During the last few years, these routes not only supply drugs but also arms and ammunition. Today, this has become a grave concern in Kashmir which can spread over the nation. This is shaping into ‘Narco-Terrorism’ — drugs with arms. This way, it is not only becoming a serious threat for the youth but also covering society as a whole. To deal with this, we need some social steps, initiatives, and campaigns to launch for the immediate eradication of drugs in all its forms.

Kupwara, a border district in North Kashmir, is famous for its landscapes, rich heritage, and industrious people. Over the past few years, the area has been struggling with a grave issue — the increasing trend of drug addiction among youth. What makes this issue even more concerning is the way it quietly impacts families, education, health, and the future of youngsters. But there is hope. Among towns and villages across Kupwara, people-run campaigns are coming up to confront this crisis using awareness, care, and initiative.

Drug addiction is not only a health problem, it is a social one. It ruins the minds and aspirations of youth. In Kupwara, as in much of Kashmir, unemployment, mental stress, peer pressure, and easy availability of drugs are some of the major factors behind more youth getting trapped into drug abuse. Locals have seen growing consumption of drugs like cannabis, heroin, and even prescription-free painkillers.

While the government and police are acting, what’s really amazing is how ordinary citizens — teachers, shopkeepers, students, mothers, religious leaders, and volunteers — have banded together to rescue their neighbourhoods. These efforts are not motivated by money or celebrity, but by a profound concern for the future of their children and communities.

One of the most important assets of these campaigns in the community is awareness and education. Colleges and schools in Kupwara have begun organizing drug awareness camps, usually organized by teachers and groups of students. Some of these are street plays, poster painting competitions, rallies, and seminars in which teenagers are made aware of the ill effects of drugs. Rather than lectures based on fear, these campaigns employ real-life experiences and peer-to-peer interaction to make the youth feel heard and accepted.

In villages such as Kralpora, Sogam, and Handwara, village elders and mohalla committees have taken very tough measures. They organize meetings with parents on a regular basis, talk to them about the detection of early signs of addiction, and urge them to approach treatment without shame. In most places, loudspeaker messages in mosques are employed to warn citizens against drug peddlers and to advertise treatment facilities.

Religious figures, particularly imams and intellectuals, are also playing an important role. During Friday sermons, they discuss drug addiction as a moral and social vice, reminding society of its duty towards children and neighbours. These religious figures’ messages breaking the silence and dispelling the stigma surrounding addiction are extremely useful. Kupwara’s women, too, are coming forward. The mothers’ groups and local women’s NGOs have begun neighbourhood campaigns where they go door to door, speak to young people, and even counsel those in danger. In most families, it is the mother who senses the change in her child’s behaviour first. These women are being trained to assist without prejudice and lead addicts towards professional intervention.

In Kupwara and Lolab towns, local sports clubs and youth clubs have also become involved. They hold football matches, cricket tournaments, and art competitions with anti-drug messages. These activities not only keep young minds active but also give them a safe platform where friendship and mental health are encouraged. Some clubs have even initiated free skill development programs such as carpentry, computer training, and tailoring to keep youth busy with creating a better future.

Most importantly, recovered addicts are stepping forward to tell their tales. Many courageous young men, having overcome addiction through rehab or family intervention, are now involved in awareness drives. They go to schools and community centres and discuss how addiction destroyed their lives and how recovery transformed them. These authentic voices have a powerful effect, particularly on young people who feel hopeless.

Parallel to these initiatives, NGOs and local health workers have established counselling centres and helplines where families and addicts can receive emotional counselling and professional guidance. The Kupwara police have also initiated public gatherings, inviting people to report drug peddlers without fear and providing protection to informants. Drug de-addiction awareness camps have also been organized in some police stations, indicating that the police are willing to assist and not punish.

Additionally, the Indian Army has played a crucial role in addressing drug abuse and narco-terrorism in Kupwara. The Army has been proactive in organizing awareness campaigns, community interactions, and rehabilitation initiatives. They have set up de-addiction centres where affected youth are counselled and guided towards recovery. The Army also works closely with the local administration to curb the drug supply chain and prevent the misuse of border routes for drug trafficking. Their efforts in maintaining security and fostering community support have been instrumental in safeguarding the district from this grave threat.

These collective efforts — in classrooms as well as cricket fields, from mosques to mothers’ groups, and with the invaluable support of the Indian Army — are gradually making a wave of hope. They are establishing the fact that if the community steps in, change is not impossible. Kupwara is demonstrating that countering drug abuse is not solely the government’s work — it is everybody’s responsibility.

But there is still work to be done. The pipeline of drugs must be shut off more effectively. Rehab centres remain scarce and usually out of reach. More mental health workers are needed in rural communities. Above all, the stigma of addiction has to end. Those with drug abuse do not need to be treated like criminals, but like patients who require treatment and support.

The residents of Kupwara are sending a strong message: “We will not let drugs steal our future.” With courage, unity, determination, and the continued support of the Indian Army, they are guarding their villages, their children, and their culture. These grassroots efforts can be a model not only for Kashmir, but for all of India.

The battle against drug abuse in Kupwara is not being waged in large offices or posh halls — it is being waged in homes, schools, streets, and mosques. It is a battle fuelled by love, responsibility, community spirit, and unwavering support from the Indian Army. And so long as people are standing together, hope will always triumph over despair.

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