SRINAGAR, JUNE 26: The Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir (IMHANS-K), Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College Srinagar, held a series of awareness programs and educational events across Kashmir on Wednesday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The initiatives were part of the global campaign themed “Break the Cycle. Stop Organized Crime.”
The main event, held at IMHANS-K in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, featured a workshop for Imaams and Khateebs. Around 30 participants attended the session, which focused on the role of religious leaders in preventing drug abuse.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Yasir Hassan Rather, Professor and In-charge Head of De-addiction Services at IMHANS-K, expressed concern over the alarming rise in substance use in the region. “There is an urgent need for collective and community-based interventions. Religious leaders can be proactive agents of change in curbing this crisis,” he said.
Dr. Arshad Hussain, Professor and Head of Unit at IMHANS-K, emphasized the preventive strength of faith in his keynote address. “Faith-based interventions can keep our children away from substances and serve as a formidable preventive strategy,” he said, urging Imaams and Khateebs to utilize their Friday sermons to promote drug-free lifestyles.
Dr. Fazle Roub, Assistant Professor and DM in Addiction Medicine, delivered an expert talk on the pivotal role of faith leaders in prevention, early intervention, and reducing stigma. Mr. Saleem, a trained counselor, presented a session on current substance use trends and community-based strategies.
IMHANS-K extended its outreach through multiple parallel events across the Valley. In one such initiative, Dr. Heena Afzal and Dr. Syed Mehvish Yaver, in collaboration with Srinagar Police, conducted an interactive workshop at Broadway Education Hub. The session, aimed at students from grades 9–12 and UPSC aspirants, focused on early awareness and prevention. At another session organized by the AMT School at Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr. Sajid Mohammad, Assistant Professor, spoke on the drug addiction landscape in Kashmir.
Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Suhaff and Dr. Ubaidullah, both Assistant Professors, conducted awareness programs at B.Ed College, Srinagar, and the Central University of Kashmir, respectively. Their joint lectures focused on youth engagement and preventive strategies. At Islamia College, Srinagar, Dr. Marya Zahoor, Senior Resident at IMHANS-K, addressed students under the college’s NSS Wing, highlighting the psychological and societal toll of substance abuse. Organizers said the day-long events aimed not just at spreading awareness, but also at catalyzing a coordinated response involving faith-based institutions, academic bodies, and the public to tackle the region’s growing drug problem.
IMHANS-K observes International Day Against Drug Abuse
