The growing menace of drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir demands sustained and serious attention. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s ongoing Nasha Mukti Abhiyan, launched for a 100-day period beginning April 11, is therefore both timely and necessary. Yet, for such an effort to succeed, it must be guided by clarity of scale, firmness of purpose, and adherence to the rule of law.

Available data suggests that substance abuse in the Union Territory has risen sharply over the past decade. Official estimates and studies indicate that lakhs of individuals—particularly youth—have been exposed to narcotics, ranging from cannabis and opioids to pharmaceutical drugs. De-addiction centres across districts have reported increasing footfall, reflecting both the spread of the problem and a growing willingness to seek treatment. This is no longer a marginal issue; it has acquired the dimensions of a social and public health concern.

Security agencies have long maintained that cross-border networks play a role in this crisis. Seizures of heroin and synthetic drugs along the Line of Control and the International Border, along with repeated official briefings, point to an organised effort to push narcotics into the region. The objective is not merely criminal profit, but also social destabilisation.

However, the urgency of the campaign must not override legal safeguards. Reports of demolition of properties linked to alleged drug smugglers underline the need for caution. Punitive action must follow due process and rest on established guilt, not suspicion. The credibility of enforcement depends as much on fairness as on firmness.

At the end of these 100 days, the measure of success should not be the number of arrests alone, but the extent of rehabilitation, disruption of supply chains, and restoration of community confidence. Jammu and Kashmir needs a sustained, lawful, and humane response to defeat this challenge.