This refers to ‘Valley consumes medicines worth Rs 400 cr annually’. The information and statistics given by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir shows valley alone consumes more than 65% of total drugs consumed in the State. This is really a matter of concern that requires our immediate attention. A huge consumption of drugs in the valley is not only due to medicinal use of drugs. Self medication and drug addiction are the two hazardous routes through which drugs reach a human body. This indicates a collapse of department of drug control and other law enforcing agencies. It also demonstrates pathetic and pitiable condition of our society.
It is beyond one's comprehension that why government and law enforcing agencies have been mute spectators,  inspite of local media from time to time through news and editorials have attempted to get their attention towards the issue. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 which prohibits ‘cultivation, production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transportation, warehousing, consumption, inter-State movement, transshipment and import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, except for medical or scientific purposes’ is applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir but one fails to understand what is the rationale behind not implementing the act in the State. There are some vested interests who want to get benefited from the booming trade of illegal trade of drugs.  Blaming a particular organization or individual for this nuisance would be irrational. We as the members of the society are equally responsible. Every one of us has forgotten our duties and responsibilities. All of us must play a positive role in minimizing the misuse of drugs.

Fayaz Ahmad Naidkhai
PhD Scholar
Jamia Millia Islamia University, New, Delhi

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST