Beyond Enforcement: A Comparative Critical Review of Anti-Drug Policies in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur

Anti-drug campaigns in India are often described as a “war on drugs”, but the phrase hides important differences in drug markets, public services and local livelihoods. This article compares Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur through a qualitative review of published sources, supplemented by original field evidence from selected villages of Kangpokpi District in Manipur collected during ICSSR-supported postdoctoral research. It examines enforcement, prevention, treatment and livelihood alternatives. The four cases reveal different challenges: trafficking and opioid dependence in Punjab; the intersection of security and health in Jammu and Kashmir; gaps between policy commitments and services in Arunachal Pradesh; and the relationship between eradication, livelihood insecurity and limited rehabilitation services in Manipur. Field accounts from Saikul suggest that agricultural outreach can coexist with continued economic reliance on poppy cultivation, while community-run rehabilitation facilities help fill gaps in public provision. These findings do not represent all of Manipur or provide a direct measure of policy impact. The article argues that arrests, seizures and crop destruction are insufficient indicators of success; sustained progress also requires accessible treatment, viable livelihoods and accountable local governance.