“Happiness is not to be found at the bottom of a bottle or from the tip of a needle; it is not to be found amidst a cloud of smoke or within a sugar-coated pill. If you look for it in these places, you will find naught but despair.” - Wayne Gerard Trotman
As I was looking forward to a posting to the Kashmir Valley, my curiosity pushed me to start reading about the ways of life in Kashmir and understand the socio-political and demographic construct of the area and the various issues pertaining to it. As I opened my computer, I probably made the most basic search anybody could make by typing “Issues prevalent in Kashmir" and was I surprised? To my utter disbelief, the screen in front of me did not speak of Terrorism, Foreign Terrorists, encounters between Security Forces and Terrorists; on the contrary the screen spoke of probably the most prevalent issue brimming in the underbelly of Kashmir – DRUGS. After giving these articles a light read, I tried to shrug the issue off my mind, telling myself that Drug Control was the responsibility of the State Government, Anti-Narcotics Agencies etc. But then a question arose in my mind – Is the Drug Menace secretly shaping the economy of the State and the Terrorism Vertical that J & K is dealing with? Is the Drug Menace giving ground to Anti National Elements to mislead the youth of Kashmir?
Addiction refers to the harmful need to consume substances that have damaging consequences on the user. One of the most unfortunate yet common addictions that affect millions today is ‘DRUG ADDICTION’ also referred to as “Substance–Use Disorder” which it affects the persons neurological functioning and behaviour. Drugs addiction includes dependency on alcohol, cocaine, heroin, painkillers, and nicotine among others. The psyche behind why people consume drugs is more complex than we think. Basically, addiction is when a person engages in an activity that is so pleasurable that they cannot stop doing it even though it disrupts daily functions, adversely affecting their physical and mental well-being. Drug use often begins voluntarily, but more often than not it impairs a person`s self-controlling abilities, leading to addiction. While some people are strong-willed and are able to stop themselves, on the contrary, there are those who develop compulsive behaviour.
So, who are the people who are most affected by this addiction? The Youth owing to their gullibility and the curiosity to have new experiences are generally the most vulnerable to this menace. The next logical aspect to understand is that what do drugs induce in one’s mind and body that forces an individual to go back to doing drugs again and again and slowly get trapped into an addiction. Drugs help the person feel good about themselves and to increase dopamine levels in brain, leaving the person asking for more, hence increasing the dependency of the person on drugs. People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. The turmoil that has been brimming in Kashmir for the past three decades could also be a reason for this menace or it could be something that Anti-National Elements are using to their advantage to pump in drugs into Kashmir. Some of the more objective reasons young Kashmiris could be taking drugs for, may be to fit in the society, to escape from reality or to relax, to relieve boredom, to seem grown up, to just be rebellious or just to experiment. These issues maybe arising from unemployment, socioeconomic problems, depression being few of them. A report by the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) indicates that 70,000 people are drug addicts in the Kashmir region alone, of which about 31% are women. 90% of drug addicts are aged 17 to 35. Over the past two decades, many young people have also turned to drugs for entertainment.
There are different drugs that have different effects on the brain. Antidepressants are drugs that decrease functioning. When taken in small amounts, antidepressants can help people relax. Large amounts of antidepressants can cause nausea, loss of consciousness, and in some cases, even death. Alcohol, marijuana, and opiates such as heroin, morphine, and GHB are examples of depressants. Hallucinogens are drugs that distort the sensation of reality. You may start to hallucinate, see or hear things that aren't really there. Such circumstances can lead to paranoia, panic, emotional and mental euphoria, nausea, and gastrointestinal problems. LSD, marijuana, magic mushrooms, and ketamine are some examples of hallucinogens. Stimulants are drugs that help you pay more attention and overwork your brain. It can cause a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, fever, loss or change in appetite, restlessness, and insomnia. When taken in large quantities, it can lead to panic, seizures, stomach cramps, anxiety, and more. Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, and ecstasy (MDMA) are examples of stimulants.
It is downright obvious that addicts don't always understand how much their family and friends love them. The strong support of family members along with the help of addicts’ determination to quit addiction can help them lead a happy life. The subject should not be treated as a taboo but should be dealt with clearly and unambiguously. Schools are the best place to teach and instil in children the idea that this addiction will slowly kill them, leaving their future in the throes. The local youth needs to be engaged on a regular basis by means of casual interaction, seminars conducted by local Youth Clubs and occasional awareness drives. The youth can help another youth by offering support and detesting the use of any drug. Peer pressure is one of the causes of youth entering into such lifestyle. Camps established by local organizations need to provide appropriate treatment for drug addicts. With the increasing number of addicted patients, rehabilitation centers have become the need of the hour. A proper therapy, medication for the drug battered people along with utmost physical, social, mental and spiritual care is required. Most people use drugs because of stress-related problems such as unemployment, peer pressure, economic hardship etc. Situations like these require appropriate counseling . During recovery, a person benefits from a meeting with a psychiatrist, who examines medical conditions and offers advice on how to deal with a stressful situation and how drugs are not the solution to the problem. A person can also share their experiences with other addicts. Counseling is essential for self-acceptance during recovery.
One small step towards the problem could help address the growing number of drug addicts in the valley. A number of young people turning to drug abuse have been directly or indirectly affected by the tense situation in valley owing to extensive terrorism and separatist activity. Now that finally development is taking precedence, Anti National Elements once again aim to create instability in the valley by spreading this drug menace. When this primary cause is combined with unemployment and corruption, people will eventually fall into the arms of addiction. This is a serious challenge, especially in the Kashmir valley, where the number is increasing day by day. What is required is a proactive approach by all government agencies and a sense of acceptance amongst the population. It needs to be conveyed to the locals that hiding this menace or refusing that it exists is not the solution. The elders of the villages unfortunately feel that the knowledge of a Drug Addict in the family will tarnish the image of the family or the village. It needs to be reaffirmed to them that informing government agencies or taking professional help is not something to be ashamed of but something to be proud of. A strong will and continuous support to affected families/ villages will help make Kashmir a paradise again.
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