Drug Abuse

Cop arrested for drug peddling, 800 bottles of Codeine Phosphate recovered

Representative Photo.

Srinagar: A Jammu and Kashmir police constable was arrested on Thursday in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district for his involvement in drug dealing and 800 bottles of Codeine Phosphate were recovered from his possession.

Confirming the incident, SSP Ganderbal told Free Press Kashmir that a police constable (name withheld) posted at District Police Lines Ganderbal was arrested today after a police party raided his residence in Kurhama village and 800 bottles of Codeine Phosphate were recovered from his home.

Police said that after being found that the person is involved in drug peddling, he was subsequently arrested by the police party.

“Investigations are going on and further arrests are expected,” SSP said.

Meanwhile, Ganderbal police have registered a case under registration number 25/2020, under section no 8/22 NDPS act, and further investigations have been taken up.

Pertinent to mention, earlier a week ago, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) had warned society of alarming rise in drug and alcohol abuse especially among youth appealing parents, social organisations, teachers and religious leaders to rise against the menace.

Reports suggest that over the years Kashmir has witnessed a considerable rise in drug abuse cases as youth are taking drugs due to its easy availability, accessibility and affordability due to its huge local production.

The doctors’ body said that J&K has witnessed a steep rise in substance abuse cases over the past two decades saying that the drugs go to places where there is even no public transport.

A study carried out by Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) recently, first of its kind, has also found around 2 percent prevalence of substance abuse, majorly opioids, in two districts of Kashmir.

The percentage translates into Rs 3.7 crore being spent every day on drugs of abuse by 17000 people in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Kashmir.

In 2019, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had come up with a study in which they had studied 100 drug abusers in twin drug de-addiction centre in Srinagar.

The study revealed that majority of them had been using cannabis and the maximum use of this type of drug can be attributed to its local production.

 

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