HYDERABAD: There are nine million drug addicts in Pakistan, out of which two million are in the age 15 to 25, said Dr. Darya Khan Leghari of Sir C.J Institute of Psychiatry.
He said that Drug abuse is rapidly growing in Pakistan, especially among youth including those in colleges and universities, resulting in serious social and health implications while almost five per cent of the adult population has already been addicted to drugs across the country keeping Pakistan at the top of the list among the countries which are affected by this scourge.
Talking to APP here on Friday ,Dr. Leghari said that the reason behind alarmingly increasing number of drug addicts in Pakistan is that the drug cartels are fully backed and supported by the powerful and the wealthy who have got ample influence.
He said that drugs trafficking once viewed largely as a social and criminal problem, has transformed in recent years into a major threat to the health and security of people and regions.
To a query, he said that often drug abuse is linked to factors such as risk taking behaviors that may involve experimenting with narcotics, smoking and alcohol, social isolation, stress, anxiety, depression, modern life style, unemployment, excessive pocket money by parents and lack of supervision of parents, added.
He said that many people get depressed and start feeling sick. Physical health and sexual health of addicts weaken so rapidly that a young man of thirties looks like an old man of over-sixties.
Drug use in general leads to a number of health problems, such as malnutrition, apathy and loneliness said Dr Khan.
He said that the awareness campaigns through mass media, essay contests, lectures and declamation contests in schools, colleges and universities should be run in order to create awareness about the ill effects of drug addiction.
He further said that researches have proved that people who start smoking cigarettes or drink alcohol at a young age are much more likely to experiment with illegal drugs than people who do not smoke or drink. He said that efforts should be made to control tobacco smoking in the country because it is the gateway to drug abuse.
He added that parents should be vigilant and should keep their children busy and motivate them to say their prayers regularly.
He said that teachers can play significant role to aware the students about drug abuse situation in the country to convey message to the entire society regarding this alarming issue.
He said that there is need of effective awareness to inform the students about drug abuse and motivate them to conduct research and share its findings with the society.
He said that teachers are the ideal for the students and their personality influence students to change their actions.
Dr. Khan urged that there is need to stop supply of the illicit drugs and reduce its demand where treatment is the core approach as drug abuse in Pakistan has increased dramatically in the past few decades.
He further said that in early age when alcohol was not prohibited, everyone kept it as part of their dinning but when it was declared haram, immediately people destroy it without asking any reason and this was all because of the teachings of our Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Dr. Darya Khan said that the evil couldn't be eliminated through strict administrative directives and unnecessary power but just through proper counseling, awareness and rational actions.
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