Recently, J&K has surpassed Punjab in drug abuse cases and is currently at top position among the top drug abuser states or union territories in the country.
According to World Drug Report 2022, India has the fourth largest quantity of opium seized in 2020 at 5.2 tons and the third-highest amount of morphine was also seized in the same year at 0.7 tons.

Sources of drug trafficking:
India is sandwiched between two largest Opium producing regions of the world that is the Golden triangle on one side and the Golden crescent on other.
· The golden triangle area comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
· The golden crescent area includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Ø After Taiban taking over in Afghanistan, there is increase in incidence of drug trafficking in India
originating from Afghanistan.

Drug menace posing a significant threat to internal security of India:
· Social Destabilization: Drug abuse leads to social breakdowns, family disputes, and increased crime rates, undermining the stability of communities and society.
Ø The youth are particularly susceptible to drug addiction, endangering the nation’s future workforce and leadership potential.
· Economic Implications: Drug-related crimes drain resources from law enforcement, healthcare, and social services, diverting funds that could be invested in national development.
Ø Drug addiction decreases productivity, affecting economic growth and competitiveness.
· Nexus with Organized Crime: The drug trade often funds organized criminal networks, fostering corruption, money laundering and weakening law enforcement agencies.
· Cross-border Connections: Drug trafficking networks often transcend national borders, potentially fostering transnational crime and challenging border security.
· Terrorist Financing: Illicit drug profits can inadvertently fund terrorism, creating a nexus between drug traffickers and terrorist organizations.
· Undermining Governance: Drug-related corruption can erode trust in public institutions and weaken governance structures.

Way Forward
· Enhanced Law Enforcement:
Ø Strengthen border control and intelligence sharing to curb cross-border trafficking.
Ø Increase penalties for drug-related offenses, focusing on deterrence.
· Demand Reduction Strategies:
Ø Promote addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs.
· Treatment and Rehabilitation:

Ø Establish more addiction treatment centers and offer accessible de-addiction services.
Ø Provide vocational training and opportunities for recovering addicts to reintegrate into society.
· Educational Reforms: Launch awareness + Integrate drug addiction topics into the education curriculum + providing proper counseling services.
· International Cooperation: Collaborate with neighboring countries to curb transnational drug trafficking networks.
· Reducing Stigma: Create campaigns to reduce societal stigma associated with addiction, encouraging people to seek help.
· Economic Opportunities: Foster employment opportunities and skill development programs to prevent vulnerable populations from falling into drug abuse due to lack of opportunities.

There is need of comprehensive strategies encompassing law enforcement, rehabilitation, education, and international cooperation to safeguard India’s internal security and social well-being.