SRINAGAR: Junaid*, 17, stands in the doctor’s room of the SMHS Hospital’s Drug De-addiction Centre, locked in a tense argument with his mother. Beardless, with only the faint hint of a moustache, dark circles under his eyes, and a visibly weak, malnourished frame—he looks far younger than his age.
“I don’t want to stay here again,” he pleads. “Just give me the medicine… I don’t want to be admitted.” His mother, exhausted and desperate, tries to hold back her tears as she struggles to explain to him that staying in the hospital is for his own good.
Meanwhile, Junaid’s father folds his hands and begs the doctors, “Please, he should grow to hate heroin… You’re our only hope. Help us.” There is a ring of desperation in his voice.
A doctor, seated at the table, listens in silence. He’s lost in thought as he caresses his forehead with his hand in the dimly lit room. He’s seen a replay of similar scenes countless times.
Junaid is one of many teenagers in Kashmir caught in the brutal grip of heroin addiction—a crisis that is growing quietly, but rapidly, within the Valley’s towns and villages.
Kashmir lies in close proximity to the Golden Crescent—a notorious drug-trafficking region spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, known for heroin production. This geographical vulnerability has contributed to a surge in drug-related issues across the Valley.
The Alarming Crisis
A 2022 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in Kashmir has revealed a severe heroin crisis, with an estimated 52,404 people addicted to opioids—32,097 of whom inject the drug.
Opioids include a range of prescribed pain relieving drugs like morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs heroin. They produce euphoria, pain relief, sedation, and slowed breathing, which can cause death in overdoses. According to Dr. Junaid Maqbool, opioids are highly addictive even after minimal use, with severe withdrawal symptoms making cessation difficult once dependence develops.
Data from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Srinagar also highlights the severity of the crisis. The institute reported just 489 drug abuse cases in 2016, a number that surged to 7,420 by 2019.
At least 25,400 drug abusers have been registered in Out-Patient Department (OPD) and 1,595 in In-Patient Department (IPD) across Jammu and Kashmir since 2022, according to latest official data.
These statistics were revealed in the J&K legislative assembly recently in response to a query raised by several legislators. The Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department Minister told the House that 9,775 drug abusers were registered in OPD in the year 2022, followed by 8,700 in 2023 and 6,925 in 2024. Similarly, 306 drug abusers were registered in IPD in 2022, 586 in 2023, and 703 in 2024.
The Kashmir Valley, in particular, is grappling with a growing heroin epidemic. A report indicates that 2.8% of the Valley’s population, or 52,404 individuals, are substance users, with 95% of them addicted to heroin. Another estimate puts the number of drug abusers in Kashmir at over 67,000, with 90% hooked on heroin.
Around 13.5 lakh people in Jammu & Kashmir consume drugs, with over 5 lakh addicts using opioids, a parliament panel report revealed in 2023. Most of them are dependent on heroin, followed by other substances like inhalants, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), and hallucinogens.
According to a latest report by the Journal of Drug Issues, titled Narcotics in Kashmir: District-Wise Trends and Patterns (2025), heroin seizures across Jammu and Kashmir have grown more than fivefold in just four years — from 15 kilograms in 2018 to 80 kilograms in 2022. The sharpest increases are being recorded in districts within the Valley, where communities are already reeling from years of conflict and economic instability.
The southern district of Anantnag has emerged as the state’s heroin hotspot, accounting for nearly 20 kilograms of seizures in 2022 alone — the highest in the region. It is followed closely by Pulwama (17.3 kg) and Baramulla (11.6 kg), highlighting a worrying concentration of trafficking and consumption in these three districts. Collectively, they represent nearly 60% of all heroin seizures in Kashmir.
The report traces the heroin supply chain back to Afghanistan, funneled through Punjab and into Kashmir via cross-border smuggling routes. The porous Line of Control (LoC), as well as internal security gaps, have made it easier for traffickers to operate. Once inside, the drug is swiftly distributed through well-organized local networks.
In 2021 alone, authorities seized over 160 kilograms of heroin in the region.
Law enforcement have stepped up its response, with a sharp rise in NDPS Act cases—over 1,000 cases registered in Kashmir alone in 2022. Yet, the increasing number of seizures per year suggests that efforts to curb the trade may not be enough to stem the tide.
Youth Among Most Vulnerable
The data also points to a disturbing demographic trend: most individuals arrested in heroin-related cases are young men between 18 and 35 years old. The report notes a visible shift from casual use to habitual dependence, with injection drug use becoming increasingly common. This raises serious public health concerns, including the risk of HIV and Hepatitis C outbreaks due to needle sharing.
Experts warn that heroin’s grip is no longer confined to urban fringes. “We are seeing cases in remote villages, among students, and even among those with steady jobs,” said a senior official involved in the study. “Heroin is everywhere, and the Valley’s social fabric is slowly unraveling.”
The problem is most acute among unemployed young men aged 25 to 30, many with little education, trapped in a cycle of addiction that drains them of ₹88,183 per month — a crushing financial burden on families already struggling in the volatile region.
According to a latest report (2025) cited in the Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, drug abuse in Jammu & Kashmir, including Ladakh, has reached alarming levels.
A national survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi revealed that 4.9 percent of the population—over 600,000 individuals as per the 2011 Census—are dependent on opium derivatives such as doda, phukki, poppy husk, heroin (including brown sugar and smack), and pharmaceutical opioids. This places Jammu & Kashmir among the top five states and union territories in India for opioid abuse.
These findings about rising intravenous drug use, raising risks of overdoses and infectious diseases, are glaring. Experts warn that without urgent rehabilitation programs, job opportunities, and harm reduction measures, Kashmir’s opioid epidemic could spiral further out of control.
The Battle Against Addiction
Junaid, now a student of Class 11, recalls the moment his life took a dark turn. “I was in Class 9 when I took my first dose of heroin,” he admitted. “Since that day, I’ve been caught in the grip of addiction. Time has lost all meaning—there’s no day or night anymore.”
*Noora Begum, Junaid’s mother, recounts her painful struggle in trying to save her son from the grip of heroin addiction.
"We sent Junaid to rehabilitation twice," she says. "The first time, he stayed for only six days before fleeing with the same friends who had introduced him to drugs. He relapsed almost immediately."
Desperate, the family brought him back for another attempt. "He stayed for seven days this time. Then again, he ran away. It’s always the same — he runs away, and we keep chasing after him, and bring him back."
Her voices is weighed down by sheer helplessness. "We are exhausted now. What more can we do? Inside, I feel dead already," she says.
The Stigma and Shame
In the beginning, no one in the locality or among the relatives knew that Junaid was using drugs. The family kept it hidden, hoping he would recover quietly. But over time, the truth surfaced. With that, so did the questioning glares of the neighbours and extended family members.
"Now, we are defamed everywhere," says Noora Begum, unable to bear the burden of agonisingly watching drug addiction destroying her son coupled with the shame and stigma that this brings.
"Everyone knows. We can't even show our faces to anyone anymore," she adds, after a pause.
The toll has been immense, not just emotionally but mentally. "His father is now on psychiatric medication because of all this," she reveals.
For families like Noora's, the battle is not just against addiction — it is also against the isolation, stigma, and silent suffering that comes with it.
The Cost of Addiction
Dr. Fazle Roub, Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), shed light on the severe physical and mental health consequences of heroin addiction, which continues to grip Kashmir’s youth.
“Heroin users often face multiple physical health complications, particularly hepatitis C,” said Dr. Roub.
“One of the most common and serious issues we observe is Hepatitis C, which spreads primarily because users often share the same syringe repeatedly.” he adds
He explained that the dangers don't stop there. “Hepatitis C is a viral disease that can also be transmitted through sexual contact. This creates a chain of transmission within families and communities. Left untreated, individuals with Hepatitis C eventually face the risk of developing liver cancer.”
Highlighting the financial impact, Dr. Roub shared findings from a recent study conducted at IMHANS.
“The average heroin user spends approximately ₹88,000 per month on the drug, which amounts to more than ₹10.5 lakh annually. By the time many of these patients reach us, they’ve already spent between ₹30 to ₹40 lakh on their addiction. This creates an immense financial burden not just on the individual, but also on their families.”
Beyond finances, the social cost is equally devastating. “We regularly see broken families. I recently encountered a patient who needed hospital admission, but his wife had already left him due to domestic violence, and his elderly mother could no longer stay with him in the hospital. These stories are not rare.”
Dr. Roub also spoke about the psychological consequences of long-term heroin use. “Depression, anxiety, restlessness, and significant sleep disturbances are common. Even when we prescribe medication, many patients still struggle with severe insomnia. The symptoms of depression in these patients are intense.”
According to him, chronic users are also more prone to self-harm. “They often inflict cuts on themselves to convert their psychological pain into physical pain—because physical pain feels more bearable. Unfortunately, suicidal tendencies are also alarmingly high among these individuals. They struggle to cope with societal and family pressures.”
Challenges of Withdrawal
On the subject of treatment and withdrawal, Dr. Roub explained, “Withdrawal is extremely difficult for heroin users. Patients often say they want to quit but are unable to due to intense cravings, body pain, sweating, mood swings, and urges to self-harm.”
To manage withdrawal, IMHANS provides evidence-based treatments. “We use opioid substitution therapies that are safer and administered without syringes—usually sublingual medication. We gradually taper the dosage over time, unlike heroin use which only increases. Some patients require this substitute treatment for as long as three to four years, depending on their condition.”
Dr. Roub emphasized the need for more awareness and a supportive environment to tackle this growing crisis holistically.
For hours, Noora Begum sat beside her son Junaid at the de-addiction centre, pleading with him to stay and complete his treatment. "Please stay here," she begged. "These doctors will help you get better. Your father and I will stay here with you — you won’t be alone."
But Junaid refused to listen. Despite her desperate attempts, despite her tears and folded hands, Junaid’s mind was made up. He refused to give in.
"There’s nothing out there for you," his mother kept saying, her voice breaking. "Get better, my son… please."
When he still wouldn’t agree, the doctors had no choice but to administer an alternative medication — a temporary solution. They wrote down a prescription and handed it over, asking Noora to try again.
"Keep encouraging him," the doctors told her gently. "He might still come around. We’re here to help."
Even as she is disheartened by her son’s adamance, Noora holds onto the doctor’s words like a thread of hope – albeit, a fragile one.
(*Names have been changed to protect their identities.)
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