DRUG ABUSE IN PAKISTAN
In all the blitz of news in 2011, there was a remarkable story that the largest ever heroin cache had been seized in the country¶s history ± a whooping 375kg, worth an estimated $44 million. Indeed, this is a job well-executed on the part of the Anti-Narcotics Force, but this whole episode should serve to open the box on heroin drug use in Pakistan, rather than just a mere round of applause. Drug menace came into prominence in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Domestic cultivation of poppy in Pakistan started to decline from the 90s, from a peak level of 9,4441 hectares in 1992 to a µpoppy-free¶ status in 2000, but since 2003, the cultivation has again picked up pace. The problematic areas are concentrated in FATA, and concerns about losing community acquiescence in the counter-terrorism operations coupled with a lack of security forces, are crucial factors hampering eradication efforts. The fact that 70 per cent of Afghanistan¶s poppy is grown in five provinces along the t he border with Pakistan, only helps to add fuel to the fire One would imagine that it is the downtrodden and destitute in our society, who fills up the ranks of the drug addicts in Pakistan. However, it is exactly the opposite, with research showing that as high as 60 per cent of the addicts belong to the educated class, with a majority of them being university students. This is a cause of grave concern, as we are losing out on the brightest and best amongst us to the menace of drug use. The other frightening fact that emerges is that the phenomenon of injection drug use has doubled in Pakistan in the last ten years. Not surprisingly, this coincides with concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemics in the country as a result of sharing of infected needles along with other high-risk behavior. This even more precarious direction that the drug addicts are taking only helps to already stretch an over-stretched and ill-equipped ill-equipped health-care system.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRUGS
y
Heroine: Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It
was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an ³orgasm´ centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection. y
Ecstasy: Ecstasy is a tablet that is hand made using very dangerous chemicals. Ecstasy has become a very popular drug taken by hundreds of people around the world. It is mainly taken for the party moods, where you can dance the whole night away. Ecstasy usually takes effect 20 to 30 minutes after you have taken it, it is taken by the mouth and wears off about 3 to 4 hours after it has been consumed. The side effects are sweating constantly, chills, blurry vision, increase of the heart rate, it can also cause internal bleeding, damage the liver and kidney and cause heavy period for girls.
y
C ocaine: Cocaine which is also known as coke, or snow. Cocaine is a white crystalline powder mix with talcum powder or fine sugar, it can be sniffed through a straw or a rolled paper or it can also be smoked or injected into the body. Sniffing cocaine can damage the nasal membrane.
Cocaine
is know as a medicine used by many doctors
around the world as a pain killer. y
C annabi s:
Cannabis
which is also known on the streets, bars etc. as dope, pot, draw
grass and weed. When you smoke it makes you talk a lot, cheers you up, relaxes you and you can find things much more colorful and beautiful.
Cannabis
causes bloodshot eyes,
troubles your heartbeat and makes your mouth and throat very dry. It can also cause panic attacks and make you very paranoid but the symptoms usually disappear after a few hours.. y
Amphetamines: The user suffers from increased alertness, excitation, and euphoria, loss of appetite, mood swings, and anxiety. Heavy doses can cause brain damage, paranoia, and sometimes violent behavior.
CONTROLLING DRUG ABUSE:
Pakistan's first operational counter-narcotics out-fit, the Pakistan Narcotics
Control
Board
(PNCB) was created in 1973 with a strength of 833 personnel. In 1991, a second agency, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force was created to supplement the PNCB, both of which were later merged
in
1995
to
form
the
present
day
Anti
Narcotics
Force
(ANF).
The Anti Narcotics Force being the premier narcotics drug law enforcement agency and plays a crucial role in the interdiction of illegal drugs in addition to educating the common people about the ill effects of narcotics addiction. According to the National Survey on Drug Abuse conducted in 1993, there were 3.01 million drug abusers in Pakistan out of which 1.52 were heroin abusers. Majority of the addicts were in the age bracket of 15-35 years. In order to update the data, a National Assessment Study on Drug Abuse was conducted in year 2000. It revealed that there are 5, 00,000 hard core heroin abusers in the country out of which 15% are injecting drug users. Intravenous drug use has opened up the grave risk of triggering the HIVs/AIDs epidemic in the abusing as well as the general population through needle sharing. Keeping in view the alarming situation the Government of Pakistan has approved a Master Plan at a total cost of Rs. 2.832 billion with objectives to make the country drug free by reducing the demand of illicit drugs, providing treatment and rehabilitation to drug addicts, controlling supply and production of narcotics substances, curbing smuggling and trafficking of narcotics substances. Out of the total outlay of Rs. 2.832 billion, an amount of Rs. 1.072 billion has been allocated for the demand reduction preventive component and treatment and rehabilitation health components.
BAHRIA UNIVERSITY
SOCIOLOGY FINAL PROJECT
Submitted BySadiya Tasaddaq Ayesha Saeed Date- 1st June 2011
Class- BBA-8A
