UMT

Topic: Drug abused in Pakistan

Evaluation Policy

Submitted by: Hafiz Muhammad Junaid Akthar

Submitted to: Mam Seemi Waheed

Rollnamber: F2019123001

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DEFINING THE PRONLEM:

Drug Addiction maybe described as a social tragedy encompassing particularly young adults in our community.
Drug Addiction is an international dilemma with a long history but has increased many fold compared to the
past.
Medically addiction is defined as a condition in which a person gets hooked to drugs and other banned
substances like heroine, marijuana, hashish & alcohol etc providing sense of well being and euphoria in a
effort to temporarily escape from the bitter realities in his our life.
Question arises why people get addicted? There are many factors which mainly include poverty, social
injustice, high society life style and depression. If we analyze local statistics on drug addiction we will find drug
addition in both high and low segments of our community, however it is more dominant in the male gender.
Although drug addiction is a global issue but it is more prevalent in the under developed countries particularly
in low socio- economy segment of masses.
The greatest challenge today faced to any community from the menace of addiction is to protect its young
generation & rehabilitate those already hooked to it. Medically drug addiction is treated with certain
medicines to withdraw an individual from the type of drug he is used to along with counseling of the patient.
However its prognosis is slow with a big risk of withdrawal phenomena meaning patient again get addicted to
same or some other substance.
The treatment cost of drug addiction is quite high when calculated on the basis of men hour lost of a patient
along with that of his family members. Socially an addict person is not accepted which further compound his
problems due to the fact that his or her family prefer to send him to a mental hospital instead of treating him
at home.
Since drug addiction is a global challenge it need an effective strategy & a well thought tactical plan to combat
it with huge funding from governments & other donors. Good medical care during rehabilitation process &
post recovery period needs to be monitored critically to ensure that the treated patient does not bounce back
& restore his status in the society where he is living.

Last but not the least is tough measures to route out this menace forever by crack down on the mafias &
gangs involved in the heinous drug trade, its cultivation & production of its variants. To protect our future

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which is none other than our young generation high commitment & decision is still pending for a real
turnaround.

Literature Review

Drug addiction is a pathological condition. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug
use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed
ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) has categorized three stages of addiction: preoccupation/anticipation,
binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect. These stages are characterized, respectively, everywhere
by constant cravings and preoccupation with obtaining the substance; using more of the substance than
necessary to experience the intoxicating effects; and experiencing tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and
decreased motivation for normal life activities. By the American Society of Addiction Medicine definition, drug
addiction differs from drug dependence and drug tolerance.

It is, both among scientists and other writers, quite usual to allow the concept of drug addiction to include
persons who are not drug abusers according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Drugs known to cause addiction include illegal drugs as well as prescription or over-the-counter drugs,
according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

 Stimulants:
o Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
o Caffeine
o Cocaine
o Nicotine

 Sedatives and Hypnotics:

o Alcohol
o Barbiturates
o Benzodiazepines, particularly flunitrazepam, triazolam, temazepam, and nimetazepam

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 Opiate and Opioid analgesics
o Morphine and Codeine, the two naturally-occurring opiate analgesics
o Semi-synthetic opiates, such as Heroin (Diacetylmorphine), Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and
Hydromorphone
o Fully synthetic opioids, such as Fentanyl and its analogs, Meperidine/Pethidine, and Methadone

Addictive drugs also include a large number of substrates that are currently considered to have no medical
value and are not available over the counter or by prescription.

An article in The Lancet compared the harm and addiction of 20 drugs, using a scale from 0 to 3 for physical
addiction, psychological addiction, and pleasure to create a mean score for addiction. Caffeine was not
included in the study.

Drug addiction inflicts considerable harm not only on users, but also on society and non-users. In efforts to
counteract this problem, a variety of means have been adopted to curtail consumption of illegal drugs. Since
drug policy intervention often increases the full price of drug consumption, knowledge of drug users' response
to price changes is a vital component in evaluating and increasing efficiency of the means applied. Lack of
relevant data, however, has resulted in few studies which report estimates of price and income elasticity’s of
illegal drugs. A basic aim of our study is to estimate such elasticity’s using a two-wave panel data set collected
from heroin injectors in Oslo.

Drug consumption differs from consumption of most other goods in that it involves an addiction. There is no
generally accepted definition of the term; see Elster and Skog (1999). But most authors agree that an
important feature is an increase in current consumption resulting from an increase in past consumption (a
reinforcement effect due to higher marginal utility).

Consumption history also influences current utility through a tolerance effect, i.e., the total utility from a given
consumption level of an addictive good decreases, the more the user has consumed in the past. It may thus be
argued that an intertemporal model is required to encompass the addiction aspects. However, unobserved
habit effects can alternatively be regarded as individual "properties", represented in a static model by
individual-specific latent variables. To our knowledge, no previous studies exist which model the addiction to

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illicit drugs in terms of latent individual effects. Panel data permit analyses of both kinds of models by making
it possible to distinguish between-individual (inter-individual) (co)variation from within-individual
(intraindividual) (co)variation in the variables.

Modern History

Since the 19th century when Americans first discovered new wonder drugs like morphine, heroin, and cocaine,
our society has confronted the problem of drug abuse and addiction.
When the 20th century began, the United States--grappling with its first drug epidemic--gradually instituted
effective restrictions: at home through domestic law enforcement and overseas by spearheading a world
movement to limit opium and coca crops. By World War II, American drug use had become so rare; it was seen
as a marginal social problem. The first epidemic was forgotten.

During the 1960s, drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics came on the scene, and a new
generation embraced drugs. With the drug culture exploding, our government developed new laws and
agencies to address the problem. In 1973, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was created to enforce
federal drug laws. In the 1970s, cocaine reappeared. Then, a decade later, crack appeared, spreading addiction
andviolenceatepidemiclevels.

Today, the DEA’s biggest challenge is the dramatic change in organized crime. While American criminals once
controlled drug trafficking on U.S. soil, today sophisticated and powerful criminal groups headquartered in
foreign countries control the drug trade in the United States.

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Hypothesis

 Drug addiction is a serious physical and psychological problem that has many factors including
environment hereditary, mental and physical addiction and there are also few ways to recover from
this, including narcotics, anonymous, medical treatment and therapy.
 Drug addiction is a serious problem that is overcoming the nation and must be taught to avoid its
continuation.
 Drug Addiction is common in every society which has negative impact on society and the main victims
are youngsters especially teenagers’ age between 15-25 mostly.
Definition Of Drug

 A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism,
alters normal bodily function.
 A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a
specific purpose; A substance, often addictive, which affects the central nervous system; A chemical or
substance, not necessarily for medical purposes, which alters the way the mind or body

Definition Of Addication

 Addiction is a monthly peer reviewed scientific journal founded in 1884 by the Society for the Study of
Addiction to Alcohol and other Drugs which publishes articles of original research relating to alcohol,
illicit drugs, tobacco and behavioral addictions.

 Addiction is a studio album by former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze vocalist/ bassist Glenn
Hughes. It was released in 1996 on Zero Corporation, SPV and Shrapnel records and was Hughes’ fifth
solo studio album.

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Definition Of Drug Addication

 Drug addiction is a pathological or abnormal condition which arises due to frequent drug use. The
disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking
behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally ...

 Psychological and physiological substance dependence.

 The continued compulsive use of drugs in spite of adverse health or social consequences.

Drug Addication

Introduction:

Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug
craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences.
Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain
functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible
even after long periods of abstinence.

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Types of Drug Addication

From marijuana to heroin to LSD and ketamine, these drugs have a had huge impact of society ever since
people began turning to them for refuge or recreation.

Sadly, there have been lots of drug-related casualties along the way, and the figures are still climbing. There
are many types of drugs one can become addicted to and the effects are varying. From the somewhat habit-
forming to the hardcore physically addictive substances, the following are the most common types of drug
addictions:

 Alcohol Addiction Brain damage, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, impotence. Love of the bottle can
get any alcoholic that, and so much more. Learn more about alcohol abuse.
 Nicotine Addiction Many smokers probably wish they could stop smoking. Nicotine, however, seems to
make it more difficult for them to do so. Learn more about nicotine dependency.
 Cocaine Addiction Cocaine is one of the priciest drugs in the market. That fact, however, doesn't deter
millions of users from making it the most abused major stimulant in America. Learn more about
cocaine addiction effects.
 Opiate Addiction Opiates are often used to relieve pain. Addicts use it for so much more than just that.
Learn more about opiate dependency.
 Heroin Addiction There was a time when heroin was considered "harmless". Whoever said that must
have been an addict himself. Learn more about heroin addiction symptoms.
 Meth Addiction This is the drug that is giving cocaine a run for its money in the United States. One
national survey reveals that approximately 10 million people in the United States have tried
methamphetamine at least once. Learn more about crystal meth addiction.
 Methadone Addiction Oddly enough, this opiate analgesic used to treat people for heroin addictions
has become quite an addiction itself. An appropriate substitute for morphine indeed. Learn more
about methadone addiction.

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 Marijuana Addiction Call it "pot," "herb," "weed," "boom," "Mary Jane," "bud." "Gangster and
"chronic." No matter what the name, this is still the most frequently used illegal drug in the world.
Learn more about marijuana addiction symptoms.
 Caffeine Addiction Can't make it through the day without your macchiato? Then you're addicted to
caffeine. Learn more about caffeine addiction.
 Steroid Addiction Steroids are famous for their performance enhancing and muscle building
properties. No wonder it's the drug of choice for many athletes. Learn more about steroid addiction
effects.
 Vicodin Addiction Vicodin abusers tend to make some of the most adamant denials they're addicted to
the drug. It is, after all, prescribed by a doctor for pain medication, and therefore, they can't be
addicted. More info about Vicodin addiction.
 Prescription Drug Addiction No one who starts out taking prescription drugs set out to be come
addicts. But unfortunately, most prescription drugs, like Vicodin, Codeine and Demerol, are physically
addictive. Learn more about prescription drug addiction.

Behavioral Addicti on Behavioral addiction is different from drug addiction in the sense that no mind-
altering substance is being ingested. Still, it displays the same symptoms as drug or alcohol abuse. A
behavioral addict, by definition, is someone who couldn't control or stop an activity despite experiencing
adverse consequences of the activity. Learn more about the different types of behavioral addictions.

 Gambling Addiction Most people gamble for fun. When gambling stops being a recreational activity
and becomes a way to seek thrills or as a means of escape on a regular basis, then it becomes an addiction.
 Food Addiction We all eat to live. Some people, however, live to eat, as they compulsively and
obsessively crave for and eat food even when they're not hungry or when they're depressed.
 Sex Addiction Few people would admit they're addicted to sex. Little do they know that when the
compulsive use of pornography and masturbation to repeated sexual affairs, regular use of prostitutes,
voyeurism or just obsessively thinking about sex becomes the norm, they are already sex addicts?
 Love Addiction Love addiction is not really about love. Truth be told, love addiction is closer to
codependency, an unhealthy one at that, than love.

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 Porn Addiction Porn addiction is characterized by compulsive reading of pornography, obsessive
viewing or thinking about pornography and any other sexual themes. If you've got boxes upon boxes of porn
videos at home, or when you actually think that the Internet is for porn, chances are, you're a porn addict.
 Work Addiction Work addiction, or "workaholics'" in the U.S., is the most respectable, encouraged and
praised of all addictions. It's also pretty deadly, claiming hundreds of lives a year mainly through stress related
heart attack and stroke.
 Exercise Addiction Exercising is healthy. Exercising to the point of dependency and compulsion is not.
 Video Game Addiction This is one addiction parents should really worry about. After all, children and
teenagers make up the bulk of video game addicts.
 Shopping Addiction Going into a store planning to buy one pair of shoes and coming out with seven, or
spending $500 instead of the budgeted $100 are some symptoms of a shopping addict. And just like an
alcoholic or a drug addict, “shopaholics” tend to keep proof of their excessive shopping habits from their
partners.

Five Myths about Drug Addication

MYTH 1:
Overcoming addiction is a simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want to.
Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use.
These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.
MYTH 2:
Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it. Most experts agree that addiction is a brain
disease, but that doesn’t mean you’re a helpless victim. The brain changes associated with addiction can be
treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments.

MYTH 3:
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Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better. Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction
process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes
and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until the addict has lost it all.
MYTH 4:
You can’t force someone into treatment. They have to want help. Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to
be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just
as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking
clears, many formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.
MYTH 5:
Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again. Some cases are hopeless. Recovery from
drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed
or that you’re a lost cause. Rather, it’s a signal to get back on track, either by going back to treatment or
adjusting the treatment approach.

Drug Addication In Pakistan

Pakistan is today notorious for many things, but in the last 20 years, drug production and addiction has
increasingly become just one of them.
The issue of drug addiction is often overshadowed by the many of the country's other human development
problems, such as poverty, illiteracy and lack of basic health care. But the fact is, drug abuse is rapidly growing
in Pakistan and in South Asia in general.
While Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Maldives all suffer from this, Pakistan is the worst victim of the drug trade
in South Asia. Today, the country has the largest heroin consumer market in the south-west Asia region.
It wasn't always this way. Pakistan became a major exporter of heroin in the 1980s, following the influx of
Afghan refugees escaping the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The major consequence of this has been a significant increase in domestic consumption of heroin in Pakistan.
Heroin was once upon a time a drug which was virtually unknown in the country until the late 1970s. Today,
Pakistan is not only one of the main exporters of heroin; it has also become a net importer of drugs. It is
estimated that about 50 tons of opium are smuggled into Pakistan for processing heroin for domestic use.
Almost 80 percent of the opium processed in Pakistan comes from neighboring countries.

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Widespread drug abuse may be indicated by the fact that almost five percent of the adult population is using
drugs in Pakistan. As a proportion of drug abusers, heroin users have increased from 7.5 percent in 1983 to a
shocking 51 percent a decade later in 1993.
Drug production for Pakistan's domestic market is estimated at close to $1.5 billion. It appears that only three
percent of the gross profits from the illegal opium industry remain within Pakistan.
Like many of the country’s other human development problems, the issue of drug abuse touches the most
vulnerable: the majority of drug users in South Asia belong to the poorest strata of society. In addition, the
presence of a large drug industry in Pakistan leads to a redistribution of income from the poor to a few rich
individuals who control the drug trade. This not only makes the gap between the rich and the poor as well as
income inequality even worse, it also erodes Pakistan's social cohesion and stability.
Although almost all South Asian countries have enacted strict laws for fighting drug trafficking and drug use,
these measures have produced very disappointing results.
One problem is that corruption has also touched the fight against drug abuse in Pakistan and other South
Asian countries, since drug traffickers often escape punishment by giving bribes to get out of being held
accountable for their actions.
But Pakistan is not alone in fighting this disease. With the
Globalization of the drug abuse problem in the last two decades, the situation has gone from bad to worse, so
much so that the United Nations Commission on narcotic drugs no longer discusses individual situations. It has
argued that the solution does not lie in the hands of individual countries. It has to be worked out through
mutual efforts by South Asian countries.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse and Addication

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of addiction are the same no matter
the substance. The more drugs begin to affect and control your life, the more likely it is that you’ve crossed
the line from drug use to abuse and drug addiction. Unfortunately, when you’re in the middle of it, you may
be in denial about the magnitude of the problem or the negative impact it's had on your life. See if you
recognize yourself in the following signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction. If so, consider
talking to someone about your drug use. You’re on a dangerous road, and the sooner you get help, the better.

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Common Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse

 You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work,
neglecting your children) because of your drug use.
 You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high , such as driving while on
drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
 Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble , such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under
the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit. 
 Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family
members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.
 You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you
used to with smaller amounts.
 You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you
experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and
anxiety.
 You’ve lost control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even
though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.
 Your life revolves around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring
out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects.
 You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of
your drug use.
 You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you . It’s causing major problems in your life—
blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.

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Warning Signs That A Friend Or Family Member Is Abusing Drug:

Drug abusers often try to conceal their symptoms and downplay their problem. If you’re worried that a friend
or family member might be abusing drugs, look for the following warning signs:

PHYSICAL WARNING SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE

 Bloodshot eyes or pupils that is larger or smaller than usual.

 Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
 Deterioration of physical appearance and personal grooming habits.
 Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing.
 Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.

BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE

 Drop in attendance and performance at work or school.

 Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal to get it.
 Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors.
 Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies.
 Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities).

PSYCHOLOGICAL WARNING SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE

 Unexplained change in personality or attitude.

 Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts.
 Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness.
 Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out.”
 Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason.

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WARNING SIGNS OF TEEN DRUG USE

There are many warning signs of drug use and abuse in teenagers. The challenge for parents is to distinguish
between the normal, sometimes volatile, ups and downs of the teen years and the red flags of substance
abuse.

 Being secretive about friends, possessions, and activities.

 New interest in clothing, music, and other items that highlight drug use.
 Demanding more privacy; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around.
 Skipping class; declining grades; suddenly getting into trouble at school.
 Missing money, valuables, or prescriptions.
 Acting uncharacteristically isolated, withdrawn, or depressed.
 Using incense, perfume, or air freshener to hide the smell of smoke or drugs.

Collecting the Data

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QUESTIONNAIRE

NAME:

AGE:

REG#:

o MALE
o FEMALE

1. Drugs are almost used in?

 Canada

 Pakistan

 Europe

 Every Where

Canda
pakistan
Europe
eEvery where

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2. Had you ever used drug?

 Yes

 No

 Sometimes

 Might be

Yes
No
Sometime
Might be

3. People using drugs always feel ashamed

 Yes

 No

 Don’t remember

 Might be

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Yes
No
Don’t Remember
Might be

4 Drugs are used for some good purposes

 Yes , only for medical department

 No

 I don’t know

 Might be

YES ONLY FOR MEDICAL

DEPERTMENT
NO
I Don’t know
Might be

5 Drug is always used by young people?

 Yes

 No

 Almost

 Don’t know
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yes
No
Almost
Don’t know

6 Are the people engaged in illegal activities in order to obtained drugs?

 Yes

 Always

 No

 Most probably

Yes
No
Never
Don’t remember

7) Almost people have medical problems as a result of drug used?

 Yes

 No
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 Never

 Don’t remember

Yes
No
Never
Don’t remember

8) By using drug mostly people will have :

 Cancer

 Heart attack

 Brain tumor

 Blood pressure

1st Qtr
Heart attack
Brain Tumor
Blood Pressure

9) Almost drugs are made by

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 Powder

 Cigarette

 Chemicals

 Don’t know

Powder
Cigarette
Chemical
Don’t know

10) People almost used drugs

 Because of financial problems

 After death of blood relation

 Just for time passing and fun

 Don’t remember

Beacause of Financial problem

After death of blood relation
just for time passind and fun
don’t remember

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11) Drug abuse created problems in relationship with others?

 Yes

 No

 Sometimes

 Don’t know

Yes
No
Sometime
4th Qtr

12) Awareness of drugs are very important for people

 Yes

 No

 Some times

 Don’t know

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Yes
No
Some Time
Don’t know

13) Mostly drug dealers are in

 Pakistan

 Europe

 America

 Don’t Know

Pakistan
Europe
Amercia
Don’t Know

14) Most dangerous drugs are

 Cannabis and tobacco
 Speed and heroine
 Heroine
 Don’t know

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Cannabis and tobacco

Speed and Heroine
Heroin
Don’t know

15) Have you ever meet drug dealers

 Yes

 No

 Some times

 Don’t remember

Yes
No
Some Time
Don’t remember

16) Almost illiterate people are drug dealers

 Yes

 No

 Might be
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 Don’t know

Yes
NO
Might be
Don’t Know

17) Drug dealers creates problems in our society

 Yes

 No

 Some times

 Don’t know

Yes
No
Some Time
Don’t Know

18) People using drugs are not live happily

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 Yes

 No

 Not always

 Don’t know

Yes
No
Not Always
Don’t Know

19) People feeling relaxed when they used drugs

 Yes

 No

 Might be

 Don’t know

Yes
No
Might be
Don’t Know

20) Have you take of drug dealer in your life

 Yes

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 No

 Don’t remember

 Never

Yes
No
Don’t remember
Never

Pakistan Launches New National Drug Policy

Pakistan's federal cabinet has approved the main features of a national drug policy which will focus on
rationalizing prices, promoting the "essential drug" concept and the rational use of drugs, and encouraging
local production, especially the basic manufacture of active ingredients.

The policy is also aimed at effective quality control, the elimination of "spurious" drugs, the development of
systematic drug supply and distribution and the encouragement of R&D. The Health Ministry is to prepare a
"comprehensive master plan" indicating targets and resources needed to fulfil the policy, and identify
resources and technical support that could be generated from international and other sources

Drug Addiction in Education Institutions in Pakistan

Drug abuse is increasing in educational institutions across Pakistan. Students, whether be at schools, colleges
or universities, are getting addicted to substances at an alarming rate, threatening not only their own future,
but those of people around them, including family and friends.
Despite the great harm that drugs and substance abuse causes to the physical and mental health of
youngsters, no concrete action has been taken by either the government or the educational institutions. The
narrative against drugs is just that, a narrative and no steps are seen on the ground to steer the youth away
from this menace.

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According to a report by an NGO, 53% students of leading private school in Islamabad are addicted to drugs.
That’s more than half of the school going population in the country’s capital. Another report that reports data
from schools and universities in Lahore indicates that 57% of the students in Pakistan were using at least one
drug. Another survey said that one of every 10 university students were addicted to drugs and almost 50% of
the students of elite educational institutions were addicted to drugs.

Executive Summary:

Drug addiction is a pathological or abnormal condition which arises due to frequent drug use. The disorder of
addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the
vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally.

Drug Addiction may be described as a social tragedy encompassing particularly young adults in our
community. Drug Addiction is an international dilemma with a long history but has increased many fold
compared to the past.

Medically addiction is defined as a condition in which a person gets hooked to drugs and other banned
substances like heroine, marijuana, hashish & alcohol etc providing sense of well being and euphoria in a
effort to temporarily escape from the bitter realities in his our life.

The greatest challenge today faced to any community from the menace of addiction is to protect its young
generation & rehabilitate those already hooked to it. Medically drug addiction is treated with certain
medicines to withdraw an individual from the type of drug he is used to along with counseling of the patient.
However its prognosis is slow with a big risk of withdrawal phenomena meaning patient again get addicted to
same or some other substance.

Drug addiction is a pathological condition. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use
to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to
respond to naturally rewarding stimuli. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth

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Edition (DSM-IV) has categorized three stages of addiction: preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication,
and withdrawal/negative affect.
Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug
craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences.
There are many types of drugs one can become addicted to and the effects are varying. From the somewhat
habit-forming to the hardcore physically addictive substances, the following are the most common types of
drug addictions:

 Alcohol Addiction

 Nicotine Addiction

 Cocaine Addiction

 Opiate Addiction

 Heroin Addiction

 Meth Addiction

 Methadone Addiction

 Marijuana Addiction

 Caffeine Addiction

 Steroid Addiction

 Vicodin Addiction etc

So Why Drugs?

There are multiple reasons why students get addicted to drugs. For example, dysfunctional families in which
parents cease to give home and family ample time are prone to have kids get involved in harmful like drugs .
Another reason why many youngsters lean towards drug abuse is the misplaced “coolness” attached with
using such substances in the media and popular culture. Then there is also the pressure from friends who do
drugs. Those who stick to the safety are often dubbed weak and uncool and many unknowingly fall into this
trap to avoid daily ridiculing and for want of acceptance in groups. And of course there are other myths like “it
helps me focus”, “it gets my mood up” and so on.

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How to Cope?
The menace of drug abuse is not just limited to Pakistan but a global problem. Many countries have done
tremendous work to deal with drug addiction and they have achieved great success. Each year on June 26, The
United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is celebrated. The purpose of this is

to raise awareness among people about harmful effects of drugs on this society. So the first step is definitely
making youngsters aware of the problem.

The Pakistani government has begun taking action against drugs and its abuse. Countermeasures are being
deployed and drug dealers and pushers are being dealt with increased strictness. Besides the government,
administrations of schools, colleges and universities also carry great responsibility to eradicate the menace of
drugs. Students should undergo medical tests before admissions and any user of drug should be denied
admission. Students should be thoroughly monitored on campuses to check if they are taking drugs. These
little measure may look little, but can go a long way in saving hundreds of students from falling into the abyss
of drug abuse.

Why have our drug laws failed?

Narcotics are destroying our society and youth. 685 deaths per day are occurring daily in the world due to
drug usage or overdose, which is higher than the number of deaths resulting from terrorism. The world’s drug
economy is worth $435 billion and around $225 billion is needed for drug treatment of patients globally. The
most commonly recovered drug in Pakistan being hashish, followed by heroin, opium and cocaine, which are
easily smuggled, from Afghanistan right under the noses of concerned border forces. Moreover the easy
availability of drugs on streets, universities and colleges is an absolute failure on part of Police and excise
department. Sadly, the rise in cases of drug abuse is among the youth in particular the students of renowned
universities and colleges. The findings of the data show that since 2016, at least 9,885kgs of heroin, 1,440kgs
of hashish and 33kgs of opium were seized in special raids conducted on educational institutions. A few years
ago, a medical student from a well-known university in Karachi lost his life to overdose of a drug (hashish).
Additionally, a similar incident was reported from a renowned university in Lahore and several other cases of
deaths from drug overdose go unreported in Pakistan.
The “Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997” is a special law which the Legislature had enacted mainly for
awarding deterrent punishments to the persons involved in the trade of narcotics in any manner. Section 9(c)
of the Control of Narcotics Act, specifically provides that “ whoever contravenes the provisions of Sections 6, 7
or 8 of the control of narcotics act, shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment
for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine which may be up to one million
rupees, if the quantity of narcotic drug, psychotropic substance or controlled substance exceeds the limits
specified in clause (b) (1 Kilograms)” However unfortunately the law of Control of “Narcotic Substances Act
1997” has become the easiest law to be misused by the hands of law enforcement agencies, particularly by
the Police. Lodging of false and fabricated FIRs against innocent citizens, Defective investigations, false
testimony of police officials and unreliable police witnesses have certainly made the law of Control of Narcotic
Substances Act, less important in the eyes of general public as well as the courts.

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