Jammu Kashmir has witnessed a staggering rise in drug-related crimes over the past two decades, with cases and arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) more than doubling, according to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In 2004, 985 cases led to 1,380 arrests, while 2023 saw 2,149 cases and 3,072 arrests. The surge reflects the growing prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in the region, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of current measures to tackle the crisis.
The data was shared in response to a parliamentary query by MP C Ve Shanmugam, revealing a steady year-on-year increase: 1,543 cases and 2,217 arrests in 2021, 1,885 cases and 2,755 arrests in 2022, culminating in the peak of 2023.
Earlier, MP Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi raised similar concerns in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the rise in heroin addiction. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment cited the 2018 National Survey on Substance Use, which estimated 354,000 alcohol users and 151,000 opioid users in Jammu and Kashmir, alongside significant numbers of cannabis and sedative users.
To address the crisis, the government has implemented programs like the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (Drug-Free India Campaign), reaching over 98 lakh people, including 8 lakh youth and 9 lakh women.
Rehabilitation services treated over 31,000 individuals in 2023-24 through one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre, five District De-Addiction Centres, and 20 hospital-based Addiction Treatment Facilities.