Drug de-addiction Rules too being finalized
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: The Government today said that it would bring a bill on drug abuse during ongoing budget session of the Legislature.
Replying to a question and subsequent supplementaries during Question Hour in the Assembly, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo said that the bill has been prepared and will be introduced in the House during the ongoing session.
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He said this after NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq highlighted that he had earlier introduced a bill on drug abuse, making it compulsory to teach the ill effects of drug addiction in schools.
Tanvir said that he had withdrawn the bill on the assurance of the Government.
The Minister said that the Government is also in the process of finalizing drug de-addiction rules.
“We have framed the drug de-addiction rules and have sent them to the Law Department for examination,” she said.
The Minister further said that 49276 cases of drug abuse have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022.
She said 16759 such patients have been registered in Kashmir and 32517 in Jammu.
The Health Minister added that it is collective duty of all stakeholders including Legislators to come together and fight this evil, adding that Home department has primary role to play apart from Social Welfare or Education departments.
She informed the house that Drug De-addiction services are being strengthened across Jammu & Kashmir under the Health & Medical Education Department and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. As of now, no new drug de-addiction centre is under consideration in the department, she added.
The Health Minister apprised that as of 2025, 11 ATFs are functional in Kashmir Division at SKIMS Soura, GMC Bemina Srinagar, GMC Anantnag, GMC Baramulla, GMC Handwara, District Hospital Kulgam, District Hospital Shopian, District Hospital Pulwama, District Hospital Budgam, District Hospital Ganderbal and District Hospital Bandipora, providing both OPD and IPD services.
She also informed that Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are also available in GMC Doda, GMC Jammu, GMC Kathua, GMC AH Rajouri, GMC AH Udhampur, District Hospital Kishtwar, District Hospital Poonch, District Hospital Ramban, District Hospital Reasi providing both OPD and IPD services besides DH Samba functioning on OPD basis.
The Health Minister stated that several private NGOs are offering comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation services. She added that de-addiction OPD services are available in all 20 J&K districts, providing access to counselling and treatment. Besides, IPD services are catering to both male and female patients in 9 Government Medical Colleges, with psychiatrists offering specialist support and clinical oversight. Legislators Hasnain Masoodi, Mir Saifullah, Mubarik Gul, Tanvir sadiq, Mohammad Yousuf Rather (Tarigami) and Surjit Singh salathia raised supplementary questions.
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