Baramulla: Sub Division Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district now has its first dedicated drug de-addiction facility after Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa formally inaugurated the centre near the Bus Stand on Monday, 16 February 2026. The facility, constructed at a cost of ₹44 lakh by the Rural Development Department (RDD) Block Sopore, addresses what officials called a long-pending public demand in a region grappling with rising substance abuse.
The centre, currently established with a 6-bed capacity, will provide a range of community-based services spanning identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction treatment, aftercare, and rehabilitation, according to the district administration.
Key Highlights
- Facility cost: ₹44 lakh, built by RDD Block Sopore
- Capacity: 6 beds (initial phase)
- Location: Near Bus Stand, Sopore
- Who is affected: Residents of Sub Division Sopore and wider Baramulla district dealing with substance abuse
- Immediate next step: Proposal for additional staff under review; phased expansion planned
What the facility offers and who attended
Senior Superintendent of Police (Sopore) Iftkhar Talib, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore, Assistant Commissioner Development Baramulla, Chief Planning Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Block Development Officer, and Block Medical Officer were among the officials present at the inauguration.
DC Sherpa acknowledged the Rural Development Department for completing the project within a compressed timeline. He stated that establishing the centre fulfilled a demand residents of the sub-division had raised over several years. As early as 2022, local activists had publicly appealed to the administration for such a facility in Sopore.
Expansion plans and district-wide role
The district administration has indicated that the centre will be expanded in phases to meet growing demand across Baramulla. A proposal for additional staff has already been submitted to ensure the facility functions effectively, the DC stated during the inauguration.
Beyond treatment, the centre is intended to serve as a nodal hub for awareness campaigns and preventive education across the district, with a particular focus on sensitising young people about the effects of substance abuse.
Why this matters for Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir faces a severe substance abuse crisis. The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment informed Parliament in August 2023 that an estimated 13.50 lakh drug users were present in the Union Territory, with a majority between 18 and 75 years of age. Within this population, opioid addiction — particularly intravenous heroin use — has emerged as a dominant pattern, according to the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Srinagar.
Prior to this facility, Sopore and the wider north Kashmir belt had limited access to formal de-addiction infrastructure. Most public rehabilitation capacity was concentrated in Srinagar, with district-level Addiction Treatment Facility Centres (ATFCs) offering only outpatient services without admission facilities.
The DC had chaired the 24th meeting of the district-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) in January 2026, where he had directed that pending construction on the Sopore centre be completed by 31 January.
Frequently asked questions
The centre offers identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction treatment, aftercare, and rehabilitation. Starting with a 6-bed capacity, it is the first dedicated facility of its kind in Sub Division Sopore.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, inaugurated the centre on 16 February 2026. Senior police and administrative officials of the district attended the ceremony.
The centre was constructed at a cost of ₹44 lakh by the Rural Development Department, Block Sopore. The administration has described it as a project completed within a compressed timeline.
Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated 13.50 lakh drug users, according to a parliamentary committee. North Kashmir, including Sopore, has been identified as one of the areas with high substance abuse prevalence but limited rehabilitation infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Individuals seeking help for substance abuse should contact their nearest district hospital or the IMHANS helpline in Srinagar.
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