“…But I didn’t know! I thought our son was only using recreational drugs (chars/ weed) from time to time.”
“How come you never noticed?”. I was surprised.
“Well we did, he would zone out every now and then, and started losing grades.”
A call from a familiar number, “Your son is unwell, we are taking him to the hospital.”
By the time the abuser’s family reached the hospital, their son was already dead!
“If you ask me where would I have been 10 years ago? I would have said dead in a ditch!”, says a heroin addict who still has to remain vigilant after years of convalescence. He requested to remain unnamed. Being high he plunged himself with the car head-on into a ditch, it was when he realized he had hit rock bottom.
Recently, in a similar incident four boys between the age of 12-16 partying at a friend’s house, died of a sudden heart attack inflicted by chemical drugs injected into their body.
The withdrawal syndrome, the itch to get your hands on drugs, the constant fear of running out of drugs, and the miserable feeling of having no self-respect may sound familiar to those who do one or more drugs.
Call it transcendence if you want, but it’s a rat in a maze. From which only life’s miracles can take one out.
Today in Pakistan, the total number of drug addicts as per a UN report is 8.9 million, 78% of whom are male, while the remaining 22% are female. The number of these addicts is increasing at the rate of 40,000 per year, making Pakistan one of the most drug-vulnerable countries in the world. The diversification in types of drugs available and being made easily in any kitchen with chemicals available without a license and age verification is making their availability easy and outreach vast.
What is even more alarming is that the abusers are mostly youth. School going 12-19 year old culminating into 30 year old.
Most of the middle-aged to senior population is involved in alcohol intake socially or habitually.
Low self-esteem, emotional and physical weaknesses, peer pressure, bad company, inquisitiveness, blending in, overcoming anxiety or stress and shyness, lack of awareness, getting over guilt or remorse, chemical imbalances in the brain and most glaringly the inability to vent out (lack of recreational activities, counselling, social support), financial issues, never being taught to say ‘No’ and many more factors lead up to drug abuse.
Once being a head of O’levels program boys, at the main Margalla campus of a leading chain of schools, I came across two incidences of drug abuse, during my short tenure.
The boy would either come late to school or try to leave early which was of course restricted. His eyes were always firewater half open and he would be found either sleeping in the classroom or visiting the restroom frequently.
Of course, I guessed the cause and called the parents. They were always in denial. And when it finally hit the parents it was nothing but despair.
Drug abuse is not restricted to the use of cannabis or opiates. It has surpassed all organic and plant-based mixing.
Ice, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSDs, and even scorpion venom in different compositions and forms are readily available to the vulnerable.
Seeking temporary endorphins through drug abuse for momentary dopamine and euphoria is injecting youth with futility, hopelessness and senselessness.
Countries like America have legalized the use of weed to suppress illegal drug trade and bring about taxation and regulation. Whether or not it will be of any help to alleviate drug use remains to be answered.
According to UNODC, 78% of Pakistan’s total population is the youth, out of which 28% are either drug abusers or at risk. The number is rising as we speak.
ANF(Anti-Narcotics Force Pakistan) are not only fighting against the drug mafia, trailing the mules, raiding the dens and law proceedings against drug traffickers and peddlers but has initiated Model Addicts Treatment & Rehabilitation Centers(MATRCs). The treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts is facilitated all over Pakistan.
Another mentionable name in the fight for prevention and awareness against drug abuse is KKAWF (Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation). Named after Karim son of Cristina and Tariq Afridi who lost his life while with friends injected him with some kind of methamphetamine. This is one story others don’t see the light because of the taboos and social stigmas attached to it.
Harrowing change in the punishment of drugs has further marginalized the fight against drugs. Before, the drug dealers were sentenced to death by law when provided substantial evidence. The lawmakers have softened the punishment to only life imprisonment.
This business brings in huge money at the cost of innocent lives!
Families, friends and most of all the abusers suffer unfathomably.
Society crumbles as we have experienced when China was brought the opium war.
Our youth is prone to drug abuse.
Our only solace is sports, recreational activities, family support and counselling.
Pakistan is sitting on the world’s busiest drug trafficking corridors.
“Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there’ can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne.
Addiction, however; only leads to death sometimes slow and others in an instant!
Let’s just learn to say ‘No’.
Channel our energies positively.
Talk to people we trust.
Look the Devil in the eyes and take the bull by the horns.
‘Hum sub saath hain”.
