Recently, an international anti-drug conference was held in Pakistan, with delegates from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries participating prominently. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing the conference, expressed concern over the rising use of narcotics and announced measures to further improve mutual cooperation and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
The increasing use of drugs has become a serious global issue. According to United Nations statistics, millions of people worldwide are addicted to some form of narcotics, with a significant proportion being youth. Pakistan is not immune to this dangerous trend. Educational institutions — universities and colleges — which should be training grounds for the architects of the future, have now fallen prey to the poison of drugs.
The types of drugs include cannabis, hashish, heroin, opium, Lexus, crystal meth (ice) and various types of tobacco, which severely damage both body and mind. Unfortunately, their use among the younger generation is being promoted as a fashion, a form of entertainment, a means to relieve stress, or under peer pressure. Many students use them for temporary relief, happiness, or to escape academic pressure, but this temporary relief quickly turns into a deadly addiction.
A report indicates that more than 30% of young people in Pakistan’s educational institutions use some form of narcotics. These statistics are a wake-up call, as this trend is not only harming health but also affecting academic performance, family relationships, and the social fabric.
Research conducted in Lahore’s medical colleges revealed that 21% of students admitted to using drugs, with the majority consuming tobacco and cannabis. Similarly, a study on medical undergraduates in Abbottabad KPK found that 21.49% of students confirmed using psychoactive substances, mostly male students. Another study reported a 35.8% drug usage rate in Pakistani universities, with 42.1% among postgraduates and 32.6% among undergraduates. Additionally, 17.3% of students in public universities and 26.3% in private universities admitted to using more than one type of drug.
The drug menace is no longer confined to urban areas; it has gradually spread to industrial and rural regions as well. Several factors contribute to this, including mental stress, despair, unemployment, parental neglect, family issues, and negative peer influence. Parties organized for youth, the availability of drugs on social media, and the activities of illegal groups further complicate the problem.
Criminal networks involved in drug trafficking are leveraging modern technology. Social media apps, online payment systems, and rider services are being used to deliver narcotics. These groups have established an organized network that specifically targets young people.
Globally, the U.S. accuses Canada and Mexico of illegal fentanyl smuggling, while some of its supply originates from India. Countries like Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, and Myanmar are considered major suppliers in the global drug production and distribution network.
Drugs are not just a health issue; they are a full-blown social scourge. Many individuals involved in major crimes such as murder, robbery, sexual offenses, and terrorism are often addicted to some form of narcotics. Drugs erase a person’s consciousness, morality, and sense of responsibility, which is dangerous for any society.
In Pakistan, institutions like the Police, Excise department, Anti-Narcotics Force, Rangers, Customs, and Coast Guard are working to combat drugs. However, unless society, parents, teachers, and students themselves take this issue seriously, its eradication is impossible.
We must adopt a multi-faceted strategy to tackle this deadly menace. Institutions working against drugs, such as the Anti-Narcotics Force, Excise and other relevant departments, need to be made more effective and proactive. Trained, professional, and competent personnel should be deployed in these agencies so they can address this grave issue according to modern demands. Additionally, their performance should be regularly reviewed, and corrective measures should be taken in case of failures.
On the other hand, a major reason why youth turn to drugs is uncertainty about the future, despair, and lack of employment and business opportunities. The government should create respectable job opportunities for young people during and after their education, introduce skill development programs, and implement policies that instill hope and confidence in them—ensuring that education leads to a better future, good jobs, and a prosperous life. Such a strategy will not only help deter drug use but also contribute to building a positive, self-confident, and responsible society.
Awareness campaigns about drugs should be launched in educational institutions. Parents should be trained to monitor their children’s activities and communicate openly with them. Students should be engaged in positive activities such as sports, arts, and academic competitions. Psychologists should be appointed in educational institutions to address mental health issues and provide timely treatment.
The media should run robust anti-drug campaigns and provide youth with role models who advocate for a drug-free life. At the same time, strict legal action should be taken against those involved in drug trafficking, and the judicial system should be made more efficient to ensure such criminals do not escape punishment.
If we do not unite against this menace today, the future will bring only darkness and destruction for our younger generation. The fight against drugs is not just the government’s responsibility — it is the duty of all of us. We must decide today whether we want to save our future generations or hand them over to this poison.
Ahmad Waqas Riaz
–The writer is a former Punjab Minister for Information
