In a historic collaboration to save Kashmir’s youth, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has formally partnered with over 100 mosque Imams to combat the spiraling heroin crisis. The initiative, launched this weekend in Srinagar, aims to use the influence of religious pulpits to de-stigmatize addiction and encourage rehabilitation across the Valley.
Key Highlights
- The Alliance: 100+ Imams attended a specialized workshop at IMHANS Srinagar to understand addiction science.
- The Strategy: Religious leaders will now use Friday sermons (Khutbahs) to preach against drug abuse and guide families toward medical help.
- Grim Reality: Official surveys estimate over 67,000 substance-dependent individuals in the Valley, with heroin being the primary killer.
- Govt Stance: Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg termed religious scholars as “crucial” for the 3-stage fight: Awareness, Identification, and Rehab.
The Full Story: Faith Meets Science in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: The fight against “narco-terrorism” and drug abuse in Jammu & Kashmir has entered a new phase. On Saturday, the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) in Srinagar witnessed a rare gathering—senior doctors and government officials sitting alongside religious scholars to draft a joint battle plan.
Why Imams? Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Anshul Garg, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasized that families often hide addiction due to shame. “Imams hold the community’s trust. If they say addiction is a medical condition that needs treatment, not a sin that needs hiding, parents will come forward,” Garg stated.
The “Srinagar Model” Dr. Arshad Hussain, Head of Psychiatry at IMHANS, briefed the religious leaders on the biological nature of addiction. He highlighted a disturbing trend: while drug abuse in the 1990s was limited to medicinal opioids, the shift to high-grade heroin since 2018 has been catastrophic. “We are seeing 40,000+ patients a year now,” Dr. Hussain noted. “We need the mosques to become the first point of counseling.”
Immediate Action Plan Under this new directive, Imams will:
- Dedicate specific Friday sermons to the dangers of drugs.
- Act as bridge-builders, connecting addict families with the nearest Drug De-addiction Centers (DDCs).
- Ensure that recovering addicts are not socially boycotted but reintegrated into society.
What This Means for J&K Society
- For Parents: If you are struggling with a child facing addiction, your local mosque committee may soon offer a safe, non-judgmental channel to seek help.
- For the Youth: The narrative is shifting from “criminalizing” addicts to “treating” them. This could reduce the fear of seeking medical support.
- For Healthcare: A surge in patient intake is expected. The government has assured that DDCs in Baramulla, Anantnag, and Srinagar are being upgraded to handle the load.
What Happens Next
- District Rollout: Following the Srinagar workshop, similar sessions are scheduled for Anantnag and Baramulla districts later this month.
- Helpline Launch: A dedicated 24/7 “Imam-Connect” helpline is expected to go live by February 1, 2026, allowing clerics to directly refer patients to hospitals.
FAQs
A: It is severe. A 2023 survey estimated nearly 6.7 lakh people in J&K are affected by substance abuse, with approx. 67,000 dependent on opioids like heroin.
A: No. The government’s policy encourages voluntary treatment. Addicts seeking medical help are treated as patients, not criminals.
A: They cannot “cure” it medically, but they can remove the social stigma that prevents people from going to doctors. Their role is guidance, not treatment.
Disclaimer
This article discusses substance abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please visit the nearest Govt Medical College or IMHANS facility. Help is available.
