India, Feb. 19 -- The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that around 70,000 persons, mostly youth, are involved in substance abuse in Kashmir, of whom nearly 50,000 are heroin users, largely through the intravenous route.

Replying to a question tabled by MLA Javid Riyaz, the Health and Medical Education Department said Jammu and Kashmir, like many other parts of the country, is facing the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, posing serious social and public health concerns.

As per a joint survey conducted in 2022 by the Health and Social Welfare departments across 10 districts of Kashmir, around 70,000 persons were found to be involved in substance use, the government said.

It sa...