Srinagar, Feb. 12 -- The specter of drug abuse has cast a long and troubling shadow over Jammu and Kashmir. What was once whispered as an emerging social ill has now grown into a full-blown crisis, gripping communities, devastating families, and threatening the future of the youth. The recent Union Territory-level deliberations on narcotics control underscore the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for a coordinated, uncompromising response.

Drug addiction here is not merely a law-and-order problem; it is a humanitarian crisis. The youth, who should be the torchbearers of progress, are increasingly falling prey to substances ranging from cannabis and heroin to pharmaceutical drugs. The consequences are stark; broken homes, risin...