DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM -- II

The proportion of drug users in the urban population was estimated at 2.53
per cent whereas the rural population showed a ratio of 2.32 per cent.

The largest proportion of sample (33.3 per cent) first tried unsanctioned
drugs between the ages of 15 and 20 years with a further 26.3 per cent in
the 21 to 25 years range.

Most of the drug abusers believed that they started drugs to become social
or, as they thought, because drugs were accepted by others.

Other reasons given for the first time use included relief from special
distress, curiosity, enhancement of sex, relief from physical stress and
treatment of health problems.

Regarding methods of drug administration, in almost all cases, opium,
bhang, alcohol and tranquilizers are taken orally.

Heroin is mostly smoked or its fumes inhaled, whereas charas is smoked by
the majority.

The observation of treatment attempts by drug abusers found that more than
half of heroin abusers (66.3 per cent) tried to abstain at some point.

First those using charas (approximately 48.8 per cent), as the drug of
first choice, had tried to quit.

This data emphasised the strong desire of many drug abusers to change their
circumstances.

Of those who tried to abstain, approximately 29.2 per cent entered some
form of supervised treatment, a hospital, specialized centre or NGO.

The remainder attempted self-treatment mainly in the form of detoxification.

According to the various community leaders no constraints on the supply
existed in Pakistan.

However, some variation, and the type of drug, was noted among the provinces.

Almost 80 per cent of the respondents thought that charas was easily, or
very easily, available in every locality.

Heroin was viewed as more difficult to obtain in Punjab and the same
impression was held by community leaders in the sampled areas of NWFP also,
despite its reputation as being a heroin producing centre.

At face value, these findings pointed to the continued need for supply
reduction mechanisms including law enforcement and schemes to reduce opium
production.

Preventive measures: regarding adequacy of existing treatment facilities
for the drug abusers, majority of the community leaders (91 per cent)
thought that the services were not adequate or accessible.

We all are familiar with the truism that "prevention is better than cure".

The spread of the menace of drug abuse depends mainly on its supply freely
due to the insatiable desires and growing materialistic tendency, which
lure easily the low paid employees to close their eyes to the unlawful
trafficking of drugs.

The government should adopt strict administrative measures to stop the
supply of drugs.

Disciplinary actions, such as suspension and termination of service, should
be taken against those law-enforcing personnel who fail to check the spread
of the drug menace in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

On the religious side, the Imams of Masjids (mosques) and mullahs should in
their sermons, make the public aware of the dreadful consequences of drug
abuse.

The mass and print media can play an important role in prevention and
control of drug abuse.

The mass media personnel, newspapers, magazine, films, radio and
television, all should play their roles in creating public awareness as
regards drugs.

For example the PTV drama "Inkar" played an important role in this connection.

Local organizations, associations and NGOs can also play key roles in
eradication of drug addiction.

Influential people, like maliks, khans, mullahs, teachers, scholars and
writers can bring out society from this inferno with mutual understanding
and cooperation.

They should play their important roles.

They should be aware about their own areas and can identify those who are
found using drugs.

They should feel their responsibility and take the chronic cases to
rehabilitation centres and keep contact with those centres.

Knowledge is the most effective weapon.

So the knowledge about drugs, its evil effects, etc., and how to fight
against the drug mafia should be provided to every member of the community.

Drug addiction and related knowledge should be made part of the school
curricula.

Teachers should be trained to provide sufficient information to their
students in this regard.

The responsibility of preventive efforts is not only the headache of the
government, but lies first with the parents and families.

The role and guidance of the family in the setup of society is the backbone
of all learned behaviour and social traditions.

So the family role must be utilised to sow hatred and rejection of drugs
from childhood.

The government should also allocate funds, for drug control demands that
resources should be mobilized with a focus on prevention programming in the
future.

There should be an effective check on manufactures, suppliers, sellers and
users of such drugs.

If such actions were not taken individually and collectively, this monster
would engulf all sections of society.