According to the World Health Organization, drugs are substances that alter a person’s mental or physical state. Common forms of drugs include narcotics, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, ice, meth, marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. Unfortunately, Pakistan has been grappling with this menace for a long period. Excessive drug usage is now rampant among Pakistani youngsters, who are resorting to modern forms of drugs such as vapes and e-cigarettes.
Causes of Drug Abuse:
There are numerous causes and reasons for drug abuse, but the prominent ones are peer pressure, poverty, and family issues.
Peer pressure:
It is the biggest reason why young individuals resort to drug abuse. As it’s famously said, “A man is known by the company he keeps,” and the majority of the time, it’s the friend’s pressure that compels a student to start consuming different forms of drugs. In Pakistan, if one of the friends is not involved in drug abuse, then his other friends start mocking and dehumanising him. The peer pressure instigates the emotional feelings of such a person, and to prove his peers wrong, he starts using vapes and cigarettes. This process ultimately leads him towards the addictive use of such drugs, which is detrimental to his well-being.
Mental Stress:
The second cause is increasing mental stress and anxiety due to family issues. At times, people take drugs just to alleviate the burden on their minds. Nowadays, financial hurdles are the primary cause of family altercations and mental stress. People seek relaxation in cigarettes and alcohol, and consequently, they become addicted to these drugs. They even indulge in illegal activities and crimes to arrange money for their drug purchases.
Pakistani Media Culture:
The third cause is the increasing trend of drug addiction in Pakistani media culture and dramas. The media very frequently airs such dramas where the elite class freely smokes and consumes alcohol, and portrays them as role models for young individuals. As a result, university and college students often imitate those media actors to appear cool, which leads them to incorporate smoking into their daily routines.
Effects of Drug Abuse
The effects of drug abuse are colossal and detrimental to people’s mental and physical health. It negatively interferes with the daily life activities of young students and individuals. They lose interest in their academics, extracurriculars, and family matters, and overconsume cigarettes & vapes. They spend their money to buy cigarettes and sometimes even resort to theft to fulfil their financial needs.
Moreover, it also impacts the personal physical health of people because it directly affects the lungs and causes lung cancer. According to a recent study, nearly 50% of college students in Karachi are using e-cigarettes. Moreover, a recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ranked Pakistan as one of the top countries in drug addiction. This increasing use of drug addiction is hazardous to the life expectancy of young teenagers, as e-cigarettes could shorten the lifespan by 10 years on average.
Increasing drug abuse also causes many mental and psychological health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. When chain smokers don’t locate their addicted drug, they often end their lives due to fear of facing societal pressure and lack of courage to spend their lives without drugs.
The Way Forward:
Addressing drug abuse is urgently necessary because the youth in Pakistan are significantly affected by this issue. First of all, parents need to monitor their children’s activities. In case of any anxiety issues, they should take their children in confidence and try to discuss things in a friendly environment instead of using violent tactics.
Moreover, the government should launch a strict crackdown against drug traffickers who are supplying free drugs to university and college students, especially in big cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Curbing a free supply chain of cigarettes and vapes is crucial to extricating students from this grave menace. The role of civil administration (such as deputy and assistant commissioners) is pivotal in this regard, as they should conduct raids on drug suppliers and seek assistance from law enforcement agencies for the arrest of drug peddlers.
Thirdly, more healthcare centres should be established for the counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts. These centres should educate the public about the harmful repercussions of drug abuse and launch a large-scale awareness drive in the form of seminars and workshops in educational institutions. Rehabilitation and psychological support for drug-affected individuals is also vital to help them become productive members of society.
Final Thoughts
Drug addiction is a serious and widespread problem in Pakistani society, but it may be avoided through stringent government laws and accountability, long-term rehabilitation and psychological support programmes for drug users, and the launching of a public awareness campaign against drug misuse.