Jammu, June 29 -- Jammu and Kashmir is in the grip of a deepening drug addiction crisis, with official data revealing a staggering rise in substance abuse across the Union Territory.
Recent government reports indicate that over 13.5 lakh people, or nearly 8% of the region's population, are affected by some form of drug dependence a figure that health officials and experts say is both alarming and unprecedented.
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the majority of drug users fall within the 18 to 75 age group, with a significant number dependent on opioids.
The data, based on the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with the National Drug Depende...