Srinagar, Jun 26 (KNO): Healthcare authorities in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have raised concerns following the identification of hundreds of substance abusers.
Data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveals that 1,109 substance abusers were identified in the district until May 2024. Among them, 311 have recovered, while 605 are currently undergoing treatment.
An official told KNO that regular awareness programs and counselling sessions are being conducted in the district to combat the drug menace.
He said the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara has implemented several measures to address this issue. "The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kupwara, and Nodal Officer Colleges have been directed to organise awareness programmes, rallies and capacity-building counselling sessions on the harmful effects of drug abuse in all degree colleges," he said.
The CMO Kupwara has been instructed to reach out to identified drug abusers and facilitate their treatment at drug de-addiction centres, the official said, adding that the list of identified substance abusers is to be shared with all Tehsildars.
The district Social Welfare Officer Kupwara has been directed to document these programmes with photos and videos and upload them on the NMBA portal, the official said. "The Principal of GMC Handwara has been tasked with finalising the recruitment process for the staff of the Addiction Treatment Facility Centre (AIFC) Handwara within two weeks and reporting compliance."
"The CMO Kupwara and Assistant Drug Controller Kupwara have been directed to keep a close vigil on the sale of expired and spurious drugs and ensure daily testing of samples from testing labs. Tehsildars have been instructed to mobilise resources for the destruction of illicit poppy and cannabis in their jurisdictions in collaboration with the Police, Agriculture, and Excise departments, and report compliance," he added.
The Additional District Magistrate Kupwara is to visit all drug de-addiction centres in the district to assess their conditions and report findings. The Senior Superintendents of Police in Kupwara and Handwara have been requested to increase surveillance around all government institutions, degree colleges, schools and coaching centres to curb the drug menace. They are also to maintain vigilance in border areas such as Karnah, Nowgam, Keren, Machil, and Komkadi.
The District Magistrate Kupwara expressed strong displeasure at the lack of action by the Medical Superintendent of DH Handwara for not setting up the Addiction Treatment Facility centre at DH Handwara—(KNO)