Opinion | Drugs Addiction – A Death Trap!

Incidence of drug addiction, a term used for obsessive or excessive, compulsive and out of control use of drugs, despite negative consequences is a common problem these days with a greatly and alarmingly increased issue in UT of J&K over the last few decades with both local and imported drugs contributing to this problem. Most of the illegal drugs come from neighboring country Pakistan through the border areas of district Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora. As a consequence, the Kashmir Valley is slowly and gradually becoming a drug hub in Northern India, with approximately more than 67000 drug abusers, of which 90% are heroin addicts, using more than 33000 syringes daily. Cannabis (Charas) is the most widely used and cultivated, trafficked illegitimate drug. Half of all drug seizures worldwide are cannabis seizures. Abuse of Cannabis (Charas) and heroin, both of which are cheapest and easily available, are rife in the UT of J&K. According to reports some Kashmiri’s between the ages of 15 to 60 use heroin regularly. Less used other drugs such as brown sugar, cocaine, marijuana are readily available in every corner of UT of J&K. The rate of injection drug abuse has also increased crucially in the Valley, sparking fears of an HIV infection. A large number of young people both male and female, experiment with a variety of illicit substances as a result the entire Country is experiencing a major epidemic of drug abuse besides the UT of J&K.

Though females remain in the minority of drug abusers in the UT of J&K but males are more likely to use almost all types of illicit drugs, resulting sometimes in overdose death for males than females. Some reports have revealed that 20% of people of Kashmir between the age of 15 to 65 use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Reports say that there are nearly 10lakh drug addicts in the UT of J&K and a range of social, cultural and economic factors are responsible for the prevalence of this epidemic drug addiction in our UT. Druggies use drugs in many different ways and for many reasons. Drug addiction is a very intricate neurobiological disorder that affects the drugie’s brain and behavior, resulting in the drugie’s inability to resist the urge to use the drugs. Drug addiction is simply a death trap, once you get into it is too difficult to find the doors to come out of this trap.

Drug abuse among the youth of J&K is becoming a major issue. The reasons for the current drug malady include availability of drugs at cheap rates. According to experts, cheap and easy drug access is the main reason for rapid drug addiction in J&K.

Unemployment and poverty have led many people to turn to drugs as a way to escape their problems.

Toxic Parenting or poor parental monitoring only worsens childhood experiences. In Kashmir, family issues are a significant source of stress for many youth. Toxic parents create a negative and toxic home environment, so as a result our society includes the largest number of anxious, lonely and purposeless people ever. In order to escape from such situations or toxic relationships, these settings with lack of goal commitment often precede drug abuse.

Peer Influence – Teens try to fit in society as a result Peer pressure to use drugs can result in drug addiction, even in the absence of specific peer pressure, a teen may feel to enjoy drinking if they observe that their friends and mates spend a lot consuming such drinks etc.

Discrimination on the bases of gender, caste and status etc – Physical and sexual abuse, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, environmental stress ,work load also lead to fall prey of drug abuse.

Person’s genetic proneness to addiction or exposure to alcohol prenatally. Drug addiction is common in families and likely involves a risk based on genes.

Researchers have found that the strongest predictor of rapid drug abuse is the effect of being tagged as ‘drug user’ or ‘drugie’. A logical reason for this can be that the drugie is often isolated from the society by labeled as ‘drugie’ instead of motivated to conform or belong to that society .He has to face discrimination, torture and rejection by the society, as a result he has least opportunities to socialise with non-drug users and gets more involved with drug groups because they are the only hope for him.

Addiction is a serious issue that can impact various elements of an individuals’ life, including their kinships, because druggies prioritize their addiction over the needs and well being of their loved ones. Leading to strained kinships, feeling of neglect and carelessness, trust issues etc.

Drugs are badly gobbling our youth, some short term effects include; impaired judgment, Drug craving, Depression, Nausea and Sleep problems.

Some long term effects include; Death –  A well known danger to drugie is mounting intolerance. This puts the drugie at a high risk of overdose.

Cardio-vascular issues; injection drug users are at an elevated risk of collapsed veins bacterial infection in the bloodstream or heart resulting in heart attack.

Liver and kidney failure; It is a well known consequence of alcoholism, but can also occur with people using charas, cocaine, marijuana.

Addiction can make quitting drugs or controlling drug use very difficult without support—no matter how much someone wants to stop or cut back.

The recent researches aimed to explore the role of family, the influence of parental involvement in their teen’s drug addiction is a fruitful manner.

Other preventive plans of action includes; Know your teen’s behavioral activities, his body language and keep an eye to their whereabouts, his friend circle etc.

Keep checking his cell phone, especially google searches. Avoid temptation and peer pressure. Keep track of prescription drugs. Provide love, care and support. Keep a well balanced life.

It is essential to take measures to address the cause in order to prevent drug addiction from becoming a bigger issue in the family, state and country.

Despite an alarming increase, Governmental response has been very little. Few programmes, NGOs, Social Activists, Journalists, rehabilitation centers are active in the UT of J&K to help drug addicts to get rid of and to uproot the drugs from our society, while smuggling and availability of drugs in our UT has gone almost unchecked. Everyday stories of drugs appear in the news headlines, but has any solution been catered to?

In supporting efforts to control drug related problems in J&K, the rehabilitation centers are mostly focusing on culturally adapted rehabilitation techniques, one of the best examples is ‘Grooming Kashmir’ at Srinagar.

– The writer is a Social Activist, Teacher, Benefactress and a motivational speaker. She can be reached at ulfatanwar906@gmail.com