Srinagar, September 19 (KNS) : Youth JK Peoples Conference (YJKPC) President Mudasir Karim has raised serious concern over the rising drug addiction crisis in Srinagar, stressing that while the police have done commendable work in choking the supply lines, the lack of proper rehabilitation facilities remains the darkest spot in the fight against drugs.

Mudasir Karim tweeted that Inspector General of Police Kashmir V.K. Birdi, SSP Srinagar Dr. G.V. Sundeep and his team have been tightening the noose on drug peddlers in Srinagar, following in the footsteps of Imtiyaz Hussain, who had earlier fought this battle on war footing.

He said that despite supply being curbed to a great extent, many young people now want to quit drugs some pushed by their families, others by their own will. “This is where the challenge begins, because rehabilitation in Srinagar is almost non-existent,” Karim stressed.

He added that Srinagar records one addict walking into IMHANS every 12 minutes, with more than 41,000 cases registered last year most of them between the ages of 17 and 35. Yet, there are only two government rehabilitation centres, both overcrowded and under-equipped. “Families are even selling property to send their children outside J&K for treatment.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis is where the system is failing our youth,” he noted.

Karim also expressed concern over the mushrooming of private rehabilitation centres in Srinagar, many of which he said are “overcharging helpless families and operating without proper registration or facilities.” He stressed that such centres need to be regulated and those violating norms must be taken to task.

He urged the government to immediately identify and upgrade centres in Srinagar into full-fledged rehabilitation facilities with medical detox, psychiatric care, counselling, after-care, and vocational training. He further appealed to the Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Health & Medical Education Department, Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, DIG CKR Rajiv Pande and all concerned authorities to treat the matter with the same urgency as policing.

“The Srinagar Police are stopping the poison from entering the city. Now we must give those already trapped in it a real chance to come out with dignity and life,” Karim added.(KNS)