Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Rise of Substance Abuse in Kashmir
Why is drug abuse on the rise in kashmir?
Kashmir, once the paradise on Earth, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. But now the question is: what happened? Is it still a paradise? Or has it turned into hell? The answer is: yes, it's still a paradise- but only for those who are fond of abusing substances, and a hell for their families, friends, and loved ones.
We are still confused about whether it's a habit, a disorder, or just fun. I say it's all of them. It starts with fun, turns into a habit, and ends as a disorder, known as substance use disorder.
Substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drugs or medicines. If we look into why it is on the rise in the valley, we will find plenty of reasons -generational trauma, decades of conflict, unemployment, etc.
While all this is true, it doesn't apply to every individual who is currently abusing substances. Individuals in good positions and earning well are using substances. Teenagers with wealthy parents are using substances. People who have spent their entire lives practicing religion are abusing substances. And, of course, many unemployed individuals are using substances. So, where is it coming from? Why? If you ask them, they all have stories of how they were drawn into substance use, breakups, peer pressure, curiosity, and fun being the primary reasons.
But what predisposed them? Was it underlying mental health issues, living in a conflict zone, or generational trauma? All these factors may predispose an individual, But ultimately, isn't substance abuse a choice? When a person abuses any substance, they make a choice. Being predisposed doesn't mean an individual will definitely use substances.
You may have a hundred reasons to use them, but it's not about how many problems you have or how much trauma you're carrying. Taking that cigarette filled with cannabis, injecting heroin into your body, snorting, or orally consuming a drug- this doesn't show trauma, it shows your choice. You chose it. So the next question would be: why are they choosing it?
My answer is availability. Isn't it concerning that drugs are almost as accessible as everyday items, sold like pickles? Research shows that when something is easily available, it's more likely to be used (Tversky & Kahneman, 1973). In the case of drugs, this is especially concerning.
The easier they are to access, the less risk people perceive, which makes them more likely to use them. This is not just a theoretical concern; studies from around the world, including Austria and the U.S., show that high drug availability directly correlates with increased use. With drugs being as accessible as a bottle of soda, it's no surprise that addiction rates continue to rise in the Kashmir valley.
REFERENCES
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Drug addiction (substance use disorder) – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112 Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973).
Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency and probability. Cognitive Psychology, 5(2), 207–232.
Written By: Mehreen Jan