Experts fear heroine abuse in Kashmir

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12249&Itemid=55

Heroine, one of the world’s costliest drugs, has entered Kashmir, medical experts said here Monday. 

Senior doctors participating in the World Health Organization training workshop for medical doctors at Government Medical College, Srinagar on substance used disorders at expressed concern over booming multiple drug usage in Kashmir and revealed that heroine also known as diamorphine (BAN) or diacetylmorphine (INN).

 

Head Social and Preventive Medicine, Dr Muneer Masoodi during his presentation said: “Heroine has started making inroads in Kashmir. We are getting such cases. One kg of diluted form of heroine is worth around Rs 1.5 crore and its single dose goes in thousands of rupees. A peddler gets around 10 per cent for smuggling a kg.”

“Children of the upper strata of the society are more prone to drug abuse due to availability of resources,” said Dr Masoodi.

Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, spontaneous abortion and – particularly in users who inject the drug – infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis. 

Masoodi said political commitment was necessary to curb the menace of drug abuse and other related problems.

Sensing phenomenal rise in multiple drug abuse in Kashmir, WHO, in its maiden attempt sponsored a six-day workshop at GMC, Srinagar which started today. The workshop is aimed at sensitizing doctors about the drug abuse and its prevention.

Masoodi also informed that 3 cases of HIV were reported from a professional college of Srinagar and 2 cases from an elite private school.

Calling for “alcohol free highways”, doctors at the workshop deliberated upon increasing alcoholism in the Valley and said: “Road accidents are frequent in the State. The highways are more prone to accidents as liquor shops line up on the highway right from Batwara in Srinagar to Jammu.”

WHO has also provided GMC the ‘sticker number’ which recognizes the college in WHO and from now onwards any department can approach WHO for their help and cooperation.

Dr Masoodi referred to a study saying that young drug addicts in the Valley in the initial stages of addiction steal copper utensils from homes for purchasing drugs. 

“So police has also cautioned copper dealers to keep an eye on youngsters selling such items,” he said.

Doctors at the workshop also said that the drug usage had gone down after eruption of armed rebellion in the State but the situation had gone back to square one and was assuming epidemic standards since the decline in militancy.

The workshop was organized by Department of Psychiatry, GMC in collaboration with WHO.

Doctors representing every district of the Valley participated in the workshop. Experts from AIIMS are also expected to arrive in Srinagar and deliver lectures on the drug abuse and other related areas in the coming days.

Senior Consultant, Department of Psychiatry Dr Arshid Hussain compeered the workshop and said: “It is just a beginning. Every department of GMC can now avail the cooperation of WHO. We are recognized on the WHO map now.”