Jammu and Kashmir are facing a new crisis as officials said that drug addiction is becoming a matter of serious concern in Kashmir, which is destroying the lives of young people. There has been a sharp increase in heroin consumption with the main rehabilitation facility in Srinagar, with a 200 percent increase in patients seeking treatment since 2020, mainly for heroin addiction.
Recent surveys on the misuse of drugs in Jammu and Kashmir, especially a serious picture of a growing crisis in the Kashmir Valley. J&K is estimated to have a drug user in J&K, which represents about 10% of the population. These figures suggest a sharp increase in 2022 from the earlier estimates of 6 lakhs.
Heroin is the most commonly used drug among users with a 95 percent dependence rate. It is often injected, causing a high rate of syringe reuse and sharing, which increases health risks such as hepatitis C.
Reports indicate that most users fall into the 15–30 age group. Twenty five percent of opioid users prefer injections. About 33,000 syringes are used daily for heroin injection in the valley; A rough estimate suggests that 65% of them are reused, which is hepatitis c. Like increases the risks of diseases. Doctors at the main drug de-addiction center in Srinagar said that around 350-400 addicts visit the daily outpatient department (OPD), which are with a maximum of 300 heroin users, who give medicines through medicine.
Dr. Fazal e Rabb, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Imhahs, said, “We used to look at 3-4 patients in 2016, but now we see 350-400 patients daily, most of whom are heroin users. I am only talking about this center; 350-400 patients are using 350-400, using 250-270 heroin. There is 8000, and many people seek quick treatment.
Drug abuses put a significant financial burden, as it is estimated that a user spends an average of INR 88,000-90,000 monthly on heroin. In rehabilitation, one of the drug addicts spoke to Zee News, stating that he used to take 4 grams of heroin daily, which cost him about Rs 24,000 a day. He said that more than 50 people alone are selling in Srinagar, and dozens are in Jammu. In Jammu, drugs are available at low rates, so the youth of Srinagar now travel to Jammu daily to get heroin.
A drug addict at the Rehab Center said, “I used 4 grams of heroin; it costs Rs 24,000 per day. We used to manage money; four of us contributed to four or five friends. It is 100% true that heroin is used by 90% of drug abusers in Kashmir; heroin is increasing day by day.
This time, most of the use is being done in Jammu and Kashmir. They want to destroy the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, and this is happening. The use of heroin will never end. This is normal everywhere – in colleges, in schools, in tuition centers. ‘Chitta’ is common; It is called the mind because it is white in color. It is increasing from minute to minute. You say 50 thousand; There are about 1 lakh those who are taking treatment, taking medicines; Imagine how many more will be. I am talking about heroin users; They are not in thousands; They are in millions. Earlier, it used to come pure; Now it is synthetic. In Kashmir, about 40–50 are selling it. Now the youth do not go to dealers in Kashmir; They go directly to Jammu. There are many spots in Jammu; One is closed, the other is opened. ,
The Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces have now extended their fight against narco-attitude through property seizures, arrests and increased border monitoring, which targets both drug pedals and their financial networks. While significant progress has been made, fuel by the complex Nexus of drugs and terrorism, fuel by Pakistan-based handlers remains a malignant challenge. The police focused on eliminating the inter-state and cross-nervous module across the border. In 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Police called for the prevention of illegal traffic against the notorious drug pedals in drugs and psychotropic substances (Pit-NDP) Act. Across the central region, 463 detention orders were issued under the pit-NDP by June 2024 in the last 18 months, indicating continuous enforcement in 2025.
SSP Srinagar GV Sundip said, “This year, in the drug anti-drug campaign, the police have done extensive work against drug smuggling. Around 80 FIRs are registered, and about 150 drug pedals were arrested. About 40 big drug pedals were booked under the UAPA, which was given a joke for their supply chain, a clause for a jerk. Attachment, approximately 7 to 7 to 7.8 crore. Heroin, cannabis, and other drugs were recovered, which reflects zero tolerance of Jammu and Kashmir Police. ”
“Jammu and Kashmir, in the present and past, bust many narco-attitude modules. We, police and administration, with evidence and evidence, have shown to the international community that we have funded the terrorism of narcotics. Many times we filed a charge sheet; even Nia also proved that Nia also proved that Nia also proved that there is a part in drug trade.”
In addition to action on drug peddlers, the police continued coordination, community engagement and rehabilitation efforts among the common people to curb narco-attitude. Jammu and Kashmir Police also started awareness programs among the general public; In each police station, a ‘Thana Diwas’ is organized to educate people about the misuse of drugs.
SSP Srinagar GV Sundip said, “For many years, Jammu and Kashmir have adopted a multi-facelist in an anti-drug campaign. We make people aware every week during ‘Thana Diwas’. We mostly talk about drugs; we try to attach the youth to the youth so that they stay away from drugs.”
Intelligence agencies suggest that since Pakistan is financially unstable, it is difficult for them to fund terrorist organizations working in Jammu and Kashmir. Now, changing its strategy, they have asked terrorist organizations to focus more on narco trade. ISI, along with terrorist organizations working in Pakistan, is pursuing rigorous drugs like heroin and brown sugar through LoC and Punjab, which are sold in Jammu and Kashmir as well as routes in Metro cities, mostly Mumbai and Middle East in India, where they grow 1000 times. One kilogram of heroin costing 5 lakhs in Kashmir is sold in Mumbai or Dubai for about 5 crores.
Agencies say heroin comes from Afghanistan to Pakistan through Pakistan, known as Golden Crescent, which is named to opium producing countries. According to data from India’s Narcotics Control Bureau, about 800 kg of heroin was seized in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab from March 2019 to January 2025.
Narco-attitude in Jammu and Kashmir refers to the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorist activities, mainly operated to fund terrorism by Pakistan-based groups and to destabilize the region. This incident has emerged as an important security and social challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after an increase in drug related events.
Agencies believe that LoC is a major entry point, with drugs such as heroin, brown sugar, and cannabis smuggled in districts such as Kupwara, Baramulla and Jammu border areas, such as rupees are complete. Drone is used rapidly to release consignments. Some drug consignments enter through Punjab and are re -prepared for Jammu and Kashmir.
The agencies also report that Pakistan orcasted the narco trade in Jammu and Kashmir and other metro cities of India and rooted it in the Middle East to earn huge amounts from this trade. Of the amount earned, some percentage is used by inter-service intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Army to fund terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials claim that Pakistan channels the channel Lashkar-e-Tiba (Late), Jaish-e-Mohammed (Gem), and Hizbul Mujahideen to the channel for drug profits.
A rough estimate suggests that drug trafficking with the Afghanistan-Pakistan-India corridor generates an estimated earning of 500 crores annually.
NIA findings of ongoing drug seizures, such as 200 kg of heroin in 2019 and several seizures in 2020-2022, and Rs 65 crore in Baramulla and Rs 180 crore drug bust in Samba, indicate a strong narco-attractive network associated with Pakistan-based terror groups.
