Year-wise drug addiction treatment cases in J&K
Financial year | Persons treated |
2021-22 | 5,382 |
2022-23 | 27,843 |
2023-24 | 36,588 |
2024-25 | 40,546 |
2025-26 | 46,491 |
Total | 1,56,850 |
Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
Srinagar, Aug 12: More people in Jammu and Kashmir are coming forward for drug addiction treatment, with the number of persons treated at government-supported centres rising from 5,382 in 2021-22 to 46,491 in 2025-26, the Centre told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The figures were shared by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in response to an unstarred question by MP Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on the assessment and prevention of substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the ministry’s data, 27,843 persons were treated in 2022-23, followed by 36,588 in 2023-24 and 40,546 in 2024-25. The number reached 46,491 in 2025-26.
Since 2021-22, government-supported centres have reported 1,56,850 treatment cases across the Union Territory.
Jammu reported the highest number of treatment cases during the period, followed by Srinagar, Kulgam, Bandipora and Rajouri.
The ministry also referred to the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, in 2018. The survey had estimated opioid use in J&K at 4.91 per cent among people aged 10 to 75, followed by alcohol at 3.50 per cent.
The government said treatment and rehabilitation services in J&K are being supported under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
At present, the department supports one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts, three Outreach and Drop-In Centres, two Community-based Peer Led Intervention programmes, six District De-Addiction Centres and 21 Addiction Treatment Facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has also been implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan across the Union Territory. According to the ministry, 8,565 Nasha Mukti Mitra volunteers have joined the campaign in J&K.
The campaign has so far reached more than 1.20 crore people in J&K, including over 69 lakh youth and 51 lakh women, the ministry said.
The increase in treatment numbers indicates a rise in the number of people accessing government-supported treatment services, but the figures do not by themselves establish an eight-fold increase in the prevalence of drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir.
Year-wise drug addiction treatment cases in J&K
