Drug addiction in Kashmir has reportedly tripled in the past three years, with a significant rise in heroin use among youth, according to divisional commissioner Anshul Garg. This surge contrasts with the government's narrative of development post-2019. While the administration is expanding de-addiction efforts, including arrests and outreach, the scale of the problem challenges claims of solely focusing on "narco-terrorism" as a funding mechanism for militancy. Previous reports indicated a substantial drug-consuming population in Jammu and Kashmir.