Overview
- The Health & Medical Education Department told the Assembly that about 70,000 people use substances in Kashmir, including nearly 50,000 heroin users, many injecting.
- The government reported 32,517 patients enrolled for de-addiction care since 2022—16,759 in Kashmir and 15,758 in Jammu—with Srinagar topping district registrations at 6,100.
- Addiction Treatment Facilities now operate in every Kashmir district and nine in Jammu, with OPD services across all 20 districts, IPD care at all Government Medical Colleges and free OST available.
- Authorities cited a cumulative 69,000 people treated across facilities to date, while current caseloads stand at 1,864 registered and 358 active beneficiaries, underscoring an engagement gap.
- Measures include awareness drives under national missions, 518 Drug Control awareness programmes in 2025–26 to December, helpline 104, fully functional ATFs at GMC Anantnag, Handwara and Srinagar, and Rs 5 crore sanctioned for a de-addiction building at GMC Baramulla.