Srinagar, Oct 26: Roughly 10% of Jammu and Kashmir’s population is estimated to be abusing substances, with many of them underage and facing a lifetime at risk. Despite the presence of drug de-addiction centres in some central hospitals, the absence of a fully functional long-term rehabilitation facility in the region is pushing families into despair or forcing them to seek expensive treatment out of state.

At SMHS Hospital, doctors treating substance abuse patients—most commonly heroin—often find themselves at an impasse. There is no local facility capable of offering long-term detoxification, vocational training, therapy, and counselling—essential components for sustainable recovery. Heroin dominates the drug scene in Kashmir, bringing with it high risks of overdose and infections, incl

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