Drugs, Lahore and Schools

Hash, weed (different types of Marijuana) Ecstasy, Cocaine…… drugs are now available more easily and to a younger market. I have been horrified by what I have seen and learnt as I delved in this issue. It is a subject people will not want to discuss, accepting their off spring is on drugs is difficult to say the least and getting him/her treated a stigma they can do without.

More and more, children hailing from affluent families going to boutique schools mainly in posh residential areas are falling victim to drug use. It starts usually with a few kids with too much money to spend given to them, a car, and parents who simply do not know where and with whom their children are spending their time with. From a small clique the intake of drugs spreads to their friends in school. It starts as adventurism, soon becomes an addiction, usual drug among young users being hash since it’s cheaper. The young user is not aware that there are different qualities in hash- the cheapest, a square inch known as “dirty hash” is available for as less as Rs 1500/- sold in DHA Lahore.  This is good for roughly fifteen cigarettes give or take. This kind of marijuana is mixed with other chemicals to increase profit margin and hook the user. Among other chemicals, it may also contain burnt car tire and the black ‘tar-coal’ used on carpeting of roads. I have been told by psychiatrists that hash abuse and/or mixed with other drugs lead to severe mood swings, paranoia and hallucinations. I have met youngsters suffering from side reactions of this drug abuse. The best quality of hash priced higher is “Amir Gul” that is smuggled in from Afghanistan.

The first effect of hash is loss of appetite. The loss of appetite can lead to zero meal a day, drastic loss of weight and dark circles under the eyes. The hallucinations are horrific, and extremely stressful for the family and the abuser. Hallucinations lead to the user creating a world of his/her own, getting cut-off from actual reality. Paranoia can become a danger if the user of the drug starts viewing his/her family as enemies and may leave house for ‘safer’ place to live.

The use has become so widespread and common, that in DHA, Lahore, more often than not, the “parchoon wala” (small vendors selling cigarettes, cold drinks) carry SMK (local rolling paper for making of marihuana cigarettes) for Rs 100/ a pack. (Each pack carrying paper for 10 cigarettes) A call is placed to the front-runner of the supplier, a code word given and the requirement, time and place of delivery confirmed. It can be in a park, outside a café, outside one of the many departmental stores. The possibilities are limitless.

One boy who has been on hash for over three years was only given a talking to when the father had time. He had a latest car and money to spend. He came and went from home as he pleased. No checks. But what he did do was; he put a number of youngsters in school with him on hash. A teacher who has taught in many high profile schools told me on promise of anonymity that the use of hash is so widespread that no school expels a student because of drugs. This is criminal. It exposes those not on drugs to peer pressure and in many cases to become hooked on drugs. In addition, many times, parents may not be aware of their child having it thereby making any school behaving in this manner grossly negligent of their duties. They are absolutely responsible for what happens within their premises. There are some reports of lower staff of some school tuck shops running successful sales.

These kids put on drugs usually start off with marijuana, have different reasons for doing so. Looking “cool” and being part of the “fashionable group” is followed by issues at home. One kid had a father who was abusive. Not just towards the children but physically abused the mother. In another case, a boy faced the death of his mother he idolized at age 15. He was emotionally vulnerable when offered a hash cigarette by a friend. In yet another case, a boy was sent to Lahore to study from a less advanced province. His father, a rich landlord, rented out a house in Phase 6 DHA, had it furnished, fully staffed with car. This boy from Grade 7 was living alone with no check of any elder, soon going on hash, developing a wide circle of friends whom he treated to with the goodies plus offering the facility of premises that had presence of no elders.

Another’s father is moving his family abroad he feels that drugs are less easily available there than in Pakistan. Let me assure the readers, this addiction is not gender specific and applies equally to girls. Transition from hash to Estacy or harder drugs is not mandatory but definitely easier. There have definitely been many cases of deaths due to drug overdose.

To find out whether or not someone is on drugs is a simple urine test. Different drugs remain in the body for different period- some for 48 hours, some for 4 days-hash of any kind for 15 days and in cases of long term abuse as long as 4 months. It is easy to beat the test too by mixing tap water in urine sample cup. The test will result negative.

There are also reports of drug parties at some farmhouses. Rs 3000/ per ticket for an entrance ticket of hash drug party and Rs 12000/ for hard drug parties and may go up to Rs 20000 per ticket. According to a report of Duniya News, “Many young boys and girls were initially invited to the parties and a slightly light dose of cocktail ( a type of drug), Ecstasy tablets, Columbian Cocaine, Molly and MDMA was given to each attendee of the party so that they could get addicted to it and eventually end up buying those drugs in exchange of heavy amounts. The report also revealed that Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad were the hubs of the drug trade. Johar Town, Satu Katla, Burki Road, Manawan, Gajju Mata, Bedian Road farmhouses, Defence, Shadman, Gulberg and Nasirabad were the areas where dance parties and gigs were organized. The mafia had also been reported inviting youth from rich and influential families after which their secret videos were made during the time when guests were left helpless in ‘peak rushes’ ( a state when drug fully controls mind and body of the user).” (July 26, 2016) According to a source who wishes to remain anonymous, a new café recently opened in DHA allows youngsters to bring in hard drinks and drugs in a wish to increase traffic and thereby to have the outlet take off. This social acceptance of drugs is part of the problem. There is no easy answer as to how to handle this situation with social acceptance gathering momentum.

To say it is the parents’ responsibility totally may not be fair. I have met parents who are very concerned for the youngsters. They have never had had an exposure to drug intake effects and miss the signs. They do not know about the tests and how. For most, helping the youngster with treatment is a stigma. In some cases, medicine can help take off the side effects tremendously, in some case sessions with psychologists may be enough. Each case needs to be weighed upon individual merit. In Lahore, few psychiatrists do psychoanalysis; it is left to the psychologists to do this.

For starters, the law enforcing agencies must round up the suppliers. It is extremely, extremely important. The more difficult we make the procurement, the better it will be. Education for the parents is extremely important. One cannot go door-to-door; schools must be earmarked with mandatory parents’ attendance, strict policy guidelines for private schools need to be drafted and followed. The checks and balances on the implantation is a crucial part.

This is an extremely crucial issue- for which there is no check and no strategy. A generation is being destroyed in the meanwhile.