Srinagar, November 16: Kashmir is facing a serious opioid crisis with more than 52,404 people suffering from opioid dependence, constituting a staggering 2.23% of the population.
The alarming prevalence, coupled with an estimated 32,097 injecting drug users (IDU), paints a grim picture of the region’s fight against drug abuse.
According to official data, the SMHS hospital detoxification center has admitted more than 5,000 new cases in the past two years alone.
Between March 2021 and March 2023, a total of 5,159 new cases were registered at the SMHS Hospital Detoxification Center Outpatient Department (OPD).
Among the new cases, most were heroin drug users, accounting for 36,870 people, accounting for about 79% of intravenous drug users.
According to doctors at IMHANS-K, opioids are the most common psychoactive substance in various districts of Kashmir, with heroin being the main opioid.
Fazle R Bhat, DM, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Kashmir (IMHANS), told Greater Kashmir that opioid dependence poses a significant burden on the economy as the average monthly expenditure on heroin consumption is Rs 88,183.58.
He said many different reasons for the rise in substance abuse were decades of war and psychosocial trauma, which had exacerbated mental health problems.
“Many people with mental health problems use drugs or alcohol to deal with their problems. Unlike other parts of India, Kashmiris generally don’t like to drink alcohol. They find opioids easier to soothe. Painkillers (containing codeine) are available in Kashmir cough syrup and tramadol). Since the early 2000s, all these patients have turned to strong painkillers like heroin, especially after 2016,” said Dr. Bhat.
Physicians at IMHANS say opioid users often require regular visits to primary care providers, emergency rooms and outpatient clinics.
“Demand for health care services is driven by concerns about pain management complications associated with opioid use, including fatal overdoses, hepatitis C, and skin ulcers. Opioid Overdose and Complications Related to It is the leading reason for emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Nearly 80% of intravenous drug users have hepatitis C, which is a significant barrier. Mental health issues such as depression and suicide attempts in this population are additional challenges,” they said.
Doctors say measures to reduce opioid use, including supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction approaches, are necessary to curb the drug menace.
“As part of the supply reduction strategy, a tough stance on drug traffickers and dealers is necessary. Demand reduction: Conduct public information campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of opioid use, indicators of addiction and resources available to them through various media channels, “they said.
Another very relevant but overlooked factor is the influence of social media, IMHANS professor Dr Yasir Hasan Rather told Greater Kashmir.
“Ten years ago, social media was a new thing, used for chatting purposes, but in recent years it has become the most powerful tool for raising awareness, communication and influence. Movie stars, social media influencers and the glorification of illegal drugs on Instagram Be the factor that drives the idea of taking heroin. It’s a seed that’s planted in a young person’s brain, and then peer pressure and easy availability are like water and fertilizer,” he said.
Dr Rather said that over the past one year, NCORD’s initiatives have helped reduce the easy availability of heroin in Kashmir due to the active participation of the government, which is also reflected in the reduction in new cases in the OPD.