Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq has termed the rising drug abuse in Jammu & Kashmir a full-scale crisis, urging immediate and coordinated intervention.
Speaking at a student seminar titled “Building a Drug-Free Kashmir” at Islamia Higher Secondary School, Srinagar, he warned that the Valley risks losing a generation if the crisis is not addressed holistically.
Citing growing unemployment, delayed marriages, and the alarming spread of opioid use among youth, Mirwaiz criticized the government’s inaction and called the liberal distribution of alcohol under tourism policies a dangerous contradiction.
He stressed the need for a collective response beyond law enforcement, involving religious leaders, educators, families, and civil society. “This is a societal emergency requiring compassion, awareness, and structural reform,” he said.
Psychiatrist Dr. Kausar Siddiq Pandit highlighted youth responsibility in resisting addiction. The seminar included student presentations, with top honors awarded to Muhammad Rameen, Zahra Aslam, and others. The 2025 Shaheed-e-Millat Edition of Nusrat-ul-Islam magazine was also released.
