Srinagar, July 30 -- Even as news of sudden cardiac deaths among youth has become common, experts trace the trend to growing drug abuse in the Kashmir Valley.

The crisis came into focus during a Divisional Level Orientation Workshop of key stakeholders and nodal officers of various departments under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) here on Tuesday, organised by the State Tobacco Control Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir. The workshop, focused on strengthening the implementation of the NTCP and tobacco control laws like COTPA, PECA, JJA, and FSSA, brought together health experts, police officials, and mental health professionals, who issued dire warnings about the current trajectory.

In his detailed presentation,...