Suhail Khan
Sopore, November 30 : Known as “Kashmir, Paradise on Earth,” the region is currently overshadowed by a severe and escalating drug abuse crisis. Thousands of young boys and girls in Kashmir are succumbing to substance abuse, which threatens the future of the next generation.
The increasing prevalence of drug addiction in Kashmir is not only a health concern but also a socio-economic and humanitarian crisis that requires immediate and comprehensive action.
Despite hearing about this serious concern in the news and reading about it in newspapers for years, no one has taken it seriously. Everyone is avoiding the conversation; no one has the courage to take a stand. Some are afraid to come forward, while others are afraid to speak out. In short, from drug addicts to families, relatives, neighbors, and authorities, it has all devolved into a ‘blame game,’ and no one is willing to take action.
Amid this ‘blame game,’ a daughter of the soil from Sopore has taken a stand against substance abuse. After researching for a year and a half, she has published a book titled “Blame Game,” only which exposes the harsh reality of substance abuse in the region.
In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch, Mehwish Rafeeqa Firdous stated, “Whenever people engage in activism, they tend to focus solely on issues related to women’s domestic violence. However, I wanted to address something different. As we all know, people are reluctant to discuss substance abuse because they believe it involves high-profile cases, which makes them fearful for their safety. However, through my research, I realized that this fear is unfounded; there is nothing high-profile about it—it’s just baseless anxiety.”
“After conducting a year and a half of research, I completed my book ‘Blame Game,’ which presents logical data on the subject,” she added. “In this book, I analyzed 65 neighborhoods in Sopore, out of which 44 responded and cooperated. Based on this feedback, I compiled a draft that includes people’s perceptions as well as my own.”
“This book represents only the first part of my research. In it, I provide surface-level knowledge on the issues at hand, while the second part will cover stories from drug addicts in Sopore,” she explained.
Mehwish emphasized that she plans to include stories from drug peddlers who are willing to cooperate in her next volume.
“My research has shown us that while we cannot stop the supply of drugs, we can certainly address the demand. We need to curb the tendencies that lead to addiction. In the book, I’ve mentioned various aspects we need to work on to reduce demand. For instance, I discuss the role of parents in a child’s life and how they can influence the cycle of drug addiction. I also touch upon early-age relationships and the roles that both females and society play in this issue,” she stated.
On the title “Blame Game,” she said that it is common for community leaders to dismiss the issue, claiming it is not their responsibility to track which children are involved in substance abuse. “When you approach people, they say the police aren’t doing anything, and then when you go to the police, they say to approach the administration. Essentially, no one wants to take responsibility; everyone prefers to blame others,” she observed.
Mehwish reflected on Kashmir’s troubled history, stating, “Kashmir has been a conflicted state, and we need to take action. We often wait for someone from outside to come and save us; we never take a stand ourselves, which is why I wrote this book.”
While she mentioned that not all stories are included in this edition, she plans to share detailed accounts in the second part. “For this first part, I had no external support; I worked on it voluntarily. However, for the second part, I’m hoping to receive support from a team, so I can include more detailed stories.”
“I am not a born writer; I learned how to write this book. The idea came to me from my research and the realization that there are still intellectual individuals in our society who appreciate such content,” she added.
Mehwish acknowledged facing numerous challenges, particularly financial ones as a student. “I never intended to publish this book for profit; I was asking everyone to contribute a little so that I could distribute the book for free in neighborhoods, especially where there are higher cases of drug addiction. However, many people claimed that the reading culture has diminished. To counter this, I have initiated book reading sessions, and I am focused on advancing this vision,” she further added.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
