The picturesque landscapes of Kashmir are currently overshadowed by a distressing surge in synthetic heroin use, posing a severe threat to the region’s youth and social fabric. Healthcare professionals report a notable increase in the abuse of synthetic heroin, especially among younger individuals. Factors contributing to this rise include societal recreational voids, job scarcity, financial stress, and the lingering impacts of living in a conflict zone, as well as the boredom induced by COVID-19 lockdowns. Dr. Yasir Rather from Government Medical College Srinagar highlights that this synthetic version, a mix of pharmaceutical opioids and opium, is significantly more dangerous than pure heroin. Alarmingly, over 90% of users are young men, with a mean age of 28 years.

The issue has garnered the attention of the central government, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the need to prevent drug entry and trade across India’s borders. The recent discovery of illegal laboratories and the data from the UN’s World Drug Report 2024, which states that one in 18 people aged 15-64 worldwide used narcotic drugs in 2022, underscore the growing complexity of the global drug situation. The shift in drug abuse from pure to adulterated heroin, particularly moving from Kashmir to Jammu, adds another layer of urgency to this crisis.

Source: Deccan Herald