Rajouri, Poonch youths falling prey to drugs
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, March 11
When Manu Verma (name changed), a college student, was released from the de-addiction centre, he was told to keep away from drugs.

But all these warnings failed to make any imprint in the youth’s mind and last week this 20-year-old guy died due to acute drug addiction.

This case is not an exception. Nowadays, more and more youths in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch are taking to drugs.

Since there is no psychiatrist at the either of the districts hospitals in these twin border districts, the patients suffering from addiction in these border districts seek treatment at the Psychiatric Hospital Jammu.

Local health sources informed that the addiction is huge problem in Thanamandi, Darhal, Koteranka and the township in this border districts whereas in Poonch district, addiction cases are being regularly reported from Mendhar, Surankote, Mandi and the Poonch township.

The records of the patients suffering from addiction particularly coming from these twin border districts at Psychiatric Hospital Jammu for the last about three decades suggests that there has been a shocking increase in the addiction cases.

The record further suggests that in Jammu province of which these twin border districts form an important part, the maximum number of de-addiction cases come from R.S. Pura, Jammu city, Rajouri, Poonch and Doda.

The records suggests that the hospital received 10-12 cases of de-addiction in one month during 1980’s from the entire Jammu region of which these border districts form a important parts, and at that time the problem was restricted to alcoholism among 30-40 years age groups.

The number increased to 100 cases in 1990, and again the cases were of alcoholism within the same age group.

In 2000, the number of cases shot upto 150 in a month with teenagers also taking up drugs in a big way. By the start of 2008, the number of addiction cases is touching about 300.

Dr Chander Mohan, Head of Department Psychiatry and Head of De-addiction Centre, said the nature of addiction changed during the last few years.

“Since drugs like cough syrups (Fencidril, Corex), tranquilisers (Alprazolam, Diazepam, Clonazipam), charas, opium derivatives are easily available, the addicts have a choice to make as per their budget,” Dr Mohan said.

“If alcohol is a favourite among addicts in 30-40 years of age group, the younger generation use drugs like Injectibles (Fartwin and Tidigesic), cough syrups, tranquilisers, pain killers (Proxyvon, Brufen, Spasmoproxyvon, and inhalants (petrol, glue).”