Drug abuse: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed seeks support from all sections

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought active support from all sections of the society in effectively countering drug abuse in the state.

"We need active support from all sections in saving our youth from the scourge of drug abuse, which is ominously spreading its tentacles across different strata of the society," the Chief Minister said, interacting with a civil society delegation here.

Sharing concern of the delegation over rising drug abuse among youth, the Chief Minister called for a concerted effort to effectively counter the menace so as to safeguard their future.

"I will prioritise setting up of more de-addiction centres to treat patients of drug abuse. I will also direct the Police Department to increase the intake capacity of its de-addiction centre at Srinagar," he said.

The delegation requested the Chief Minister to have the State's Drug Policy more effectively implemented.

Sayeed said there was a need to set up a new paediatric hospital in the summer capital here to meet the rising demand for neonates, infant and childcare.

"I will discuss this matter in the review meeting of the State Health Department tomorrow. The facilities in maternity and paediatric hospitals are interdependent and essentially the hospitals should exist in close proximity to each other," he said.