Rising drug menace in Jammu needs urgent intervention

A growing wave of drug addiction among the youth in Jammu has sparked alarm across families, communities, and public health authorities. Once considered isolated incidents, substance abuse cases are now part of a larger, dangerous pattern that threatens to engulf the region.

Despite multiple deaths linked to drug overdose, social stigma and fear of police involvement have kept many families from reporting these cases, allowing the problem to fester in silence.

Widespread crisis

The drug menace in Jammu began several years ago, initially surfacing in urban areas. However, it has now spread to all 10 districts of the division, including rural belts once thought to be immune.

Drawing parallels with Punjab’s drug crisis, local authorities say peddlers are using similar strategies—offering synthetic and low-cost narcotics to youth to turn them into long-term addicts.

Cross-border smuggling

The primary source of drugs entering the Jammu region is cross-border smuggling from Pakistan. Sophisticated smuggling networks have enabled traffickers to bypass security agencies, with only a fraction of drugs being intercepted. The Army and Border Security Force (BSF) have foiled several attempts along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border, but officials admit that these seizures are just the “tip of the iceberg.”

Adding to the challenge is the proliferation of synthetic pills and designer drugs, which are cheaper and more accessible than traditional opiates. This shift in drug type has led to new patterns of addiction that are harder to detect and treat.

Women and interstate networks

Drug peddlers have adopted new tactics to stay ahead of law enforcement. Increasingly, women are being used to smuggle drugs between districts. Jammu police have recently arrested several female couriers linked to organised drug rings.

Interstate links have also emerged, particularly with neighboring Punjab. Smugglers reportedly collect consignments in Kashmir—brought in through Pakistani routes—and then transport them through Jammu into Punjab and other parts of northern India.

Weak rehab infrastructure

While law enforcement has increased vigilance, it cannot fight the drug menace alone. The region’s rehabilitation infrastructure remains grossly inadequate. With limited treatment centers and counselling facilities, many addicts receive no medical or psychological support.

Families—often the first to detect addiction—face a double burden: dealing with stigma and navigating a healthcare system that offers little help. As a result, many cases remain hidden, and addicts are left untreated.

Need for awareness

Experts and stakeholders stress the urgent need for widespread awareness campaigns, beginning at the school and college levels. Public education initiatives can help destigmatise addiction, encourage early intervention and inform families about available treatment options.

Media, civil society, and religious organisations also have a crucial role to play in spreading awareness and building support systems for prevention and recovery.