Drug abuse rates spike as 9m Pakistanis identified as addicts

Alcohol is the mother of all social evils and ultimately leads to drug addiction among youth, especially in Pakistan.
This was stated by speakers addressing a one-day awareness seminar and walk at the Government College University, Lahore. The seminar was held against the increasing trends of drug addiction among Pakistani youth.
700 students from various departments of the university participated in the walk and seminar organised by the Ravian Forensic Society (RFS) in collaboration with the Drug Free City Lahore.
GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khlaeeq-ur-Rahman, Drug Free City Lahore Project Director Altaf Qamar and RFS Advisor Dr Akhyar Farrukh led the walk to the university campus to raise awareness among the youth against drug abuse.
Addressing the seminar, Qamar said there are nine million drug addicts in Pakistan, out of which two million are between the ages of 15 to 25. He said drug addiction is also rapidly increasing among women and there more than 200,000 female drug addicts in the country.
He stated that the signs of drug addiction include loneliness, change in the colour of the eyes and skin and aggressive behaviour.
He added that it was the responsibility of parents to keep a check on the activities of their children. He said healthy activities like sports and debates play a great role in preventing students from becoming addicts.
Dr Farrukh said GCU was making an effort to keep a strong check on the activities of its students and has constituted several committees which play their role in refraining students from engaging in unhealthy and negative activities.