Experts Sound Alarm: 'Act Now' As Kashmiri Teen Girls Fight Addiction

By Saima Rashid

Srinagar- She was just fifteen when it started. A group of girls at her tuition center in Srinagar offered her cannabis, telling her it would help with her anxiety, loneliness, and boredom.

Her parents lived in Dubai, and she was left in the care of her grandparents, who barely noticed what was happening.

Looking for comfort, she took the first step, and slowly, her life began to fall apart.

Soon after, she moved to injecting heroin. Financial troubles turned dire. She was sexually abused.

At one point, someone branded her arm with a lit cigarette. Every day after that seemed darker than the last.

Now, though drug-free, the Kashmiri teenager hasn't left her home in months. Her body bears the physical scars, but the psychological wounds in the form of terror, shame, guilt remain raw and permanent.

Dr. Zoya, a clinical psychologist who runs“Psychilite,” a mental health clinic in Hyderpora, treats her.

“I share this case to spread awareness among parents,” Dr. Zoya said.“They need to provide age-appropriate education to their children. Kids make mistakes, but parents need to support their children unconditionally.”

The teen girl's story is one of thousands unfolding in the valley, where addiction remains an invisible crisis, especially among young women.

The United Nations Drug Control Programme estimates that approximately 70,000 people in the region are addicted to various substances. Nearly 4,000 of them are women, most between 14 and 19 years old.

Their suffering is rarely acknowledged, often buried in silence and shame.

“I have hardly witnessed parents accompanying girl victims to my clinic,” said Dr. Arif Magribhi Khan, a clinical psychologist based in Srinagar. His voice holds the heavy truth.

Unlike men, who often seek help at government or private rehabilitation centers, women face a far more treacherous path.

“The number of female visitors has been minimal,” Dr. Arif explained.“But their sufferings make you extremely sad. They rarely seek rehabilitation because society constantly haunts them.”

Two girls lately came to his clinic claiming anxiety. Only after multiple counseling sessions did they admit to drug abuse.

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