50 peddlers booked under PSA in Srinagar Over 44,000 addicts visited SMHS Hospital last year

Srinagar : Last year, over 44,000 drug addicts in a bid to de-addict themselves from drug addiction visited Srinagar’s SMHS hospital.

Incharge Drug De-addiction Centre SMHS Hospital, Dr Yasir Rather informed that over 44000 patients visited SMHS hospital to get treatment for drug addiction during the year 2022. And all of these patients were given free treatment in the hospital.

“Free treatment is given to drug victims at the deaddiction centre of SMHS Hospital. There has been a significant decrease in drug victim arrivals in the hospital possibly because of the strict measures taken by police and civil administration in Srinagar,” he said.

Another doctor at the de-addiction centre told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug suppliers and traffickers and drugs are not now easily available in the open market. He added that a SKIMS Bemina, over 1500 affected patients have been given treatment at the Centre.

   Police sources said that 20 cases have been registered so far in Srinagar and 50 peddlers have been detained under Public Safety Act for dealing in the narco trade. In addition, 13.42 grams of brown sugar, 684.33 grams of heroin, and 3.36 Kgs of charas, besides 4734 psychotropic tablets and 38 bottles have been recovered from the peddlers in Srinagar. [KNT]