The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed in Lahore with a determination to eradicate the evil of drugs from Lahore. The UN is observing the day with a vision that global health starts with drug-free communities. The day highlights the role that communities could play in addressing the drug challenge. “Prevention starts with a community that cares about the vulnerable and it involves families, teachers, youth leaders and mentors, among others. We must start to think globally and act locally to curb drug abuse and drug trafficking”, UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) Executive Director Yury Fedotov said.
In connection with the day, special functions, walks and seminars were held in the city. While global markets for cocaine, heroin and cannabis have declined or remained stable, the production and abuse of prescription opioid drugs and new synthetic drugs have risen, according to the World Drug Report 2011 issued by the UN in wake of the World Anti-Narcotics Day. According to a survey conducted in 2010, more than 0.3 million people are using heroin in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) had announced a Drug Free City Project with collaboration of non-governmental organisation Aghaz-e-Nau. ANF, while announcing the project, had promised to make Lahore a drug-free city in three years. Lahore was divided into six zones to achieve the objectives of a drug-free city.
MADA arranges walk: Movement Against Drug Abuse (MADA) arranged a walk on the international day against drug abuse here on Sunday. The walk started from Press Club Lahore and terminated on Faisal Chowk. Meanwhile, MADA arranged treatments and counseling camp at Ali Park Lahore. In that camp, different doctors treated about one hundred patients on June 25.
