Increasing drug addiction in world
IN population of 7 billion people, the world is full of a lot of diseases. Around 15% are addicted with different kinds of drugs.
The youth in countries; US, Russia, Japan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Canada & China are worst addicted to cocaine, heroin, hashish, ice, and crystals. Even, a huge number of women during pregnancy use these drugs.
About 6% of adults (420 million people) have an alcohol use disorder. 20% of addicts use opioid & 25% of addicts are heroin abuser. 30% use marijuana sometimes.
The rest are addicted to cocaine & methyl amphetamine. Drug is any stuff that causes a change in an organism’s physiology or frame of mind when consumed.
They are typically prominent from food and substances that provide healthy nutritional support.
Utilization of drugs can be through inhalation, injection, and smoking, via a patch on the skin, or dissolution under the tongue.
There are many disadvantages of drug addiction but major among them is; it destroys families & life of the addict.
When a person (male or female) starts taking them for any reason, he or she doesn’t think about the outcomes.
It starts with soft drugs like pan, gutka, cigarettes, and then moves to hard ones like heroin, opium, hashish, ice, crystals etc.
There are certain agents, inside and outside educational institutions, who encourage students to buy & use this ‘curse.’
Their contact details are easily exchanged from one another and one can easily meet students in hostels, and other places which are normally hidden from law enforcing agencies.
Drug abuse is rapidly increasing in Pakistan, especially among youth including those in colleges and universities, resulting in serious social and health indications.
There are around ten million drug addicts in the country of which more than two million are believed to be in the age of 18 to 24.
The growing trend of drug abuse in education institutions has created a serious ultimatum to the lives of students.
According to a survey, around 50 per cent students of different educational institutions in Karachi, Faisalabad, Islamabad, and Lahore are addicted to drugs, and majority of them belong to elite class, having no issue of affordability.
Increasing Drug abuse directly effects on student’s health, both physically and mentally, because of which they cannot concentrate on their studies.
The number of addicts are on the rise at the rate of 40, 000 per year making Pakistan one of the most affected countries in the world. The most disappointing fact is that many heroin addicts are below the age of 24.
Increasing in use of drugs in educational institutions is a serious threat to the whole state (Pakistan) as its future is in wrong hands.
Alcohol, Crystal ice and e-cigarette are being commonly used by youth in the metropolitan cities.
Crystal Ice, which is a form of drug called methamphetamine, is the most dangerous drug as it causes physical and mental health harm.
When used, it provides false senses of happiness and wellbeing-a rush strong feeling of confidence. The depression and disappointment sometimes becomes the reason for drug addiction among the youth.
Clearly, the primary cause of drug abuse is use of drugs, yet the indicators that appear to make certain individuals more susceptible to drug addiction are its use by the parents, feeling of depression, mental issues, absence of parental association, marital problems, work stress, monetary challenges, low cost and simple access to drug, anxiety etc.
Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered to launch an advertisement campaign on social media against drugs.
The court directed the in-charge of the anti-narcotics division, four provincial chief secretaries, and secretaries of other relevant ministries to draw up an action plan to eliminate this disease from academic institutions.
Similarly, the government has decided to launch a narcotics campaign in schools to make students aware about this abuse.
But the question is; will it be helpful in eradicating this curse away from our youth? As many a times in the past, campaigns like these had been launched but in vain.
Who is responsible that the drug distributors do their work without any fear? It is a question mark on our police, anti-narcotics and other crime control agencies.
The government has failed to completely eradicate this curse from our houses and institutes. It’s now becoming a trend that if we want to be cool, you should use some type of drug.
Anyway, the government of Pakistan should handle these distributors, smugglers, and manufacturers in a strict way to secure society.
Let us consider what can be done to bring back an addict to the normal life and how a normal young male/female can be saved from not taking any kind of drugs.
First of all, it is the responsibility of teachers and parents to keep an eye on youngsters and don’t let them think about the reasons which led them to drugs.
Do not shout on them and degrade them if they don’t get enough marks in the examination. Every child is unique in its own way. Do not abuse them of not having a good job.
Appreciate their achievement and motivate them to think and act positive. But if a person got addicted then parents need to remain themselves calm and stay positive.
Then, first thing they can do is; send the patient, to a good rehab where qualified medical personnel can address their needs.
One has to keep in mind that addiction is complex but treatable and it will affect the brain and behavior.
The treatment is long and critical but mandatory for critical recovery. The commonly known treatments are counseling and other behavioral treatments.
Medication is also required to be taken during withdrawals. The treatment needs to be planned according to the patient’s need.
Detoxification is the first stage of treatment and drugs taken during treatment should be monitored and reduced with the passage of time.
—The writer is a senior health analyst & chairman Pakistan columnist council can be found at [email protected]
