J&K Government Reports Over 32,000 Drug Abuse Registrations; Intensifies Nasha Mukt Bharat Initiatives

SRINAGAR, Feb 20, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday that more than 32,517 patients have been registered for drug abuse treatment across the Union Territory since 2022.

Providing a detailed district-wise breakdown, the Health and Medical Education Department revealed a near-even distribution between the two divisions, with 16,759 registrations in Kashmir and 15,758 in Jammu.

In the Kashmir division, Srinagar emerged with the highest volume at 6,100 cases, followed by Anantnag and Kulgam. In the Jammu division, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu recorded a significant 9,806 cases, followed by GMC Kathua and GMC Rajouri, highlighting the scale of the public health challenge facing the region.

To combat this crisis, the administration is aggressively strengthening rehabilitation infrastructure under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are now operational in all districts of Kashmir and nine districts in Jammu, offering both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services.

While specialized psychiatric care is being provided through Government Medical Colleges, the government clarified that existing centers—such as the facility in Bajwani, Tral for Pulwama and the ATF at District Hospital Samba—are currently meeting local demands.

Beyond clinical treatment, the government is focusing on a grassroots approach, utilizing Panchayat-level monitoring and community outreach to identify vulnerable youth and integrate them into recovery programs.