The growing use of drugs among the youth in the beloved homeland has sounded the alarm of danger. Until recently, a limited section of the population was affected by drug use, but now the curse has been wrapped up on students of colleges, universities, even middle and high schools in the country.
Drug use among students living in hostels of educational institutions has reached alarming levels, thus the curse of drugs is licking the architects of the future like termites as the enemies of the country and drug dealers have drugged students regularly in different tactics.
More than 5% of the world’s population is addicted to drugs while the number is increasing day by day. At present, the number of drug addicts in the world is around 260 million, while as of December 31, 2020, the number of drug addicts in Pakistan was 7.6 million, which is increasing by about 10% every year.
One of the reasons for the increase in drug addicts is that men, women or young people who involved in the circle they could not get rid-off easily due to the lack of facilities for the treatment of drug addicts at the government level. While 75% to 80% of drug addicts belong to the poor class, who cannot afford treatment in the private sector.
At present, 67% of men, 18% of women and 15% of adolescents in the world are addicted to drugs, while 75% of drug addicts are between 18 and 35 years of age died.
In our country virus kinds of drugs, including cannabis, opium, marijuana, hashish, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, sheesha chemicals, tablets and alcohol are being used frequently.
People addicted to this type of drug are always at risk of developing heart disease and giving up this drug can lead to dangerous consequences. Some people use different types of drugs to alleviate their grief but then they get used to it.
The reason for the increasing use of drugs is the reduction in punishment for drug dealers in the country because the law in the country is so weak that the influential dealers are released on bail shortly after being caught.
It is the need of the hour to protect the youth from falling victim to drug addiction by providing them facilities and encouraging them to take up healthy activities to change their lifestyle media and civil society can play their role in creating awareness about the impact of drugs on young lives.
It was important for all members of society to realise their responsibilities towards the youth and try their best to protect them from drugs The authorities should take steps to eliminate poverty and ignorance which sowed seeds of pessimism in youths and led them to drug addiction.
It is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies and anti-narcotics force to control the supply of drugs, but it is the duty of educational and social institutions, NGOs and the social welfare department to curb the demand for drugs.
The government should also increase the punishments by amending the Anti-Drug Ordinance and strictly enforcing these punishments while setting up units and hospitals in every tehsil and district levels for the treatment of drug addicts.
If proper and strict steps were not taken, then in the next few years, like the rest of the world, the number of drug addicts in Pakistan will increase to such an extent that it will be difficult to overcome this scourge.
