SSP Malik Aijaz calls for united fight against substance abuse, warns of its impact

‘Drug abuse is more than law-and-order issue’

SHAM: SSP Sham Malik Aijaz, JKPS, has described the growing threat of drug abuse as a serious social challenge extending far beyond the traditional domain of policing, warning that substance addiction is increasingly putting the future of the region’s youth at risk.

Addressing a press conference, the SSP said drug abuse does not merely result in criminal activity but can fundamentally alter the course of a young person’s life, affecting physical and mental health, education, employment, family relationships and long-term prospects.

He stressed that treating the drug menace purely as a law-and-order problem would not be enough to eliminate it.  “Drug abuse is not merely a law-and-order issue,” Malik Aijaz emphasised, calling for a coordinated response involving the police, civil administration, educational institutions, families and community leaders.

The SSP said the damage caused by addiction often begins long before it comes to the attention of law enforcement agencies. Young people caught in substance abuse risk losing educational opportunities and career prospects, while addiction can also place severe strain on families and disrupt the social fabric of communities.

Putting particular emphasis on prevention, SSP Malik Aijaz called upon parents and teachers to remain vigilant and maintain open communication with young people. He said families and educational institutions have a crucial role in identifying early warning signs and intervening before experimentation develops into dependency.

The SSP urged parents and educators to create an environment in which young people can openly discuss their problems and pressures rather than becoming vulnerable to isolation, peer influence or substance misuse.

While stressing that enforcement alone cannot resolve the problem, the SSP reaffirmed that District Police Sham would continue taking strict legal action against those involved in supplying illicit drugs.

He said the police strategy would combine firm action against drug suppliers with preventive measures, awareness programmes and community outreach, thereby addressing both the supply and demand sides of the problem.

The approach, he indicated, is aimed at moving the fight against drugs beyond arrests and seizures and towards preventing young people from entering the cycle of addiction in the first place. The SSP also appealed directly to young people to reject illicit substances and adopt healthier lifestyles.

He encouraged the youth to channel their energy into education, sports and other constructive pursuits, stressing that protecting the younger generation is ultimately central to protecting the future of the region itself.

District Police Sham, he said, remains committed to eradicating the drug menace through enforcement, prevention and community participation, with the larger objective of safeguarding the health, dignity and future of the region’s youth.