DRUG abuse has been the major
cause of physical and mental harm to the health of people in Pakistan. The most
commonly used drugs are cocaine , heroine ,marijuana ,alcohol etc People usually
take drugs to cope with stress. Stress might be caused due to factors such as
unemployment , interpersonal conflicts and other family problems ,financial
crisis etc.
However some people take it for fun while others take it as a result of peer
pressure.
The excitement of a cocaine effect, for instance, is followed by a ‘crash’, a
period of anxiety, fatigue, depression, and a strong desire to use more cocaine
to alleviate the feel.
These symptoms propel the drug user to take more drugs and they get trapped into
a vicious cycle from which he is hardly able to come out.
Drug users, therefore, engage in criminal activities such as burglary and
terrorism to raise money for buying drugs. This leads to social, marital and
ethical problems. The drug addict not only harms himself but also his family and
society.
Progressive increase in the number of drug addicts will put an additional
pressure on the government for their welfare. Increase in the number of
criminals and decline in the productive manpower for the development of the
country.
The government, as well as civil society, must step in as the situation is
worsening. First, we must try to set up as many as possible drug alleviation
centres in the country.I would like to suggest some strategies:
• Form a committee to identify the causes leading to drug use.
• Keep a ban on pharmacy not to dispense medicines without the doctor’s
prescription.
• Create a culture discouraging drug use.
• Promote life skills and healthy lifestyles.
• Educate parents on how to watch their child’s behaviour, consult teachers or
doctors in case of any doubts, and keep a track of their child’s peer group.
• Increase the number of drug alleviation centres so that drug abusers can be
referred to there for treatment.
Social integration is one of the most important protective factors against drug
use. Although solution to the problem of drug abuse may seem impossible,
concrete steps should be taken to overcome this issue.
I would specially appeal to the concerned authorities to look into the matter as
a priority issue and make Pakistan a better place to live in.