The challenge of 'ice' addiction

More than nine million Pakistanis use illicit drugs. Pakistan is poppy-free, but in last 12 years (2007-2018) the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) made seizures of 1381 tons of narcotics and 409 tons of precursors. And in 2018 alone, 643 were convicted for illicit drug trafficking. If this data still doesn't ring alarm bells in the corridors of power the latest seizure should. The other day, Pakistan Navy, in coordination with ANF, seized 1,000kg of hashish worth about Rs 2.5 billion at a place near Ormara. The said cargo was loaded on boats for onward smuggling by sea to somewhere. That the narcotics seizure was reported as a single-column news item on inside pages, no one should be surprised - because not a day passes when someone with heroin in his bag is not interdicted at airport or an 'ice' (crystal methamphetamine) vendor is not found in the vicinity of a school or someone involved in this business is not convicted. There was a time when poppy grew in Pakistan and opium-smoking was allowed under the law. But when someone fleeing the Islamic Revolution in Iran arrived in Peshawar and set up factory to convert opium into deadly heroin the concerned authorities set about destroying poppy crops, mostly located in the former tribal areas. That is no more the case, opium is no longer produced in Pakistan; its sale is also prohibited. But thanks to the lingering regional geopolitical instability and country's porous border in the west Pakistan became a transit country for opiates and cannabis produced in Afghanistan, precursors from India and amphetamine-type stimulants from elsewhere. The efforts made by the Anti-Narcotics Force to interdict outflow are indeed praiseworthy. But what it deals with is only the tip of the iceberg. There are the bigger challenges like how to secure national borders against inflows of illegal drugs, both natural and synthetic, protect general public particularly the youth against increasing availability of manufactured drugs particularly the 'ice' and rehabilitation of addicts. Also known as 'glass' and 'meth' this drug is one of the most destructive drugs on the illicit market. Most of it is said to be making way to Pakistan from Mynamar's Shan state. Being a strong stimulant that boosts energy, generates confidence and euphoria it is now in use mostly by the youth in the elite sections of society. Some of the recent reports tend to suggest that 'ice' is very popular with students in elite schools. But cannabis, on the other hand, is favourite of the working class. Visit any graveyard or bunks of a foul-smelling drain, you will find scores of addicts.
Given enormity of drug-abuse challenge it warrants a multi-front response on the part of both the government and the people. Not only the inflows of illicit drugs are to be checked and drug peddlers severely dealt with the society too is required to gear up and fight the menace at all feasible levels. By now, we believe, it should have been known to our border guards as to what routes the traffickers take and who receives them at the point of entry. But a lot is still needed to be done on that front. As for the outflow of illicit drugs there are certainly some encouraging reports suggesting that the ANF did succeed in catching the drug traffickers at some airports and seaports. Timely intelligence is no less crucial, especially as to who the drug mafias are and who work as their bootleggers. Perhaps, the punishments the drug traffickers and peddlers get are not too punitive to act as deterrent. The concerned authorities may like to revisit this aspect and make punishments more stringent. Equally important is the role that public got to play both as a watchdog and a committed activist to discourage addiction and promote rehabilitation of addicts. More precisely, the ball is in the parents' court. The parents and elders are expected to detect the symptoms of addiction, if any, in their children. Given their tender age and pressure they undergo during exams the parents should check who they meet after school and how they spend their pocket money. Illicit were always there, but the havoc they tend to wreak now is a critical challenge.