“Drug Abuse Among Youth In Pakistan: Role Of The Anti Narcotics Force”

Abstract

Drug abuse globally emerged as a serious public health concern. Pakistan is bearing heavy cost of consequences of drug abuse like other developing countries. About five to six percent of population is drug user. Youth which has twenty eight percent share in total population of Pakistan is main victim of this curse. Socioeconomic drivers like extreme poverty, unemployment, lack of awareness about very harmful consequences of drug abuse, academic stress friends and peer pressure with easy availability are major contributor of increasing trend of drug abuse. Some reports estimate that number of drug users in Pakistan reached up to nine million in which major chunk is youth. Affects and impacts of drug addiction are very serious and not limited to mental and physical health issues. There are socioeconomic consequences such as cost of drug purchase, medical expenses, less productivity losses of drug addicts and caring family member that family, community and state face. Drug addicts are more prone to be involve and conduct crimes for their drug cost needs and mental health conditions.

Pakistan is geographical part of traditional and famous drug corridor due to its border with drug producing country Afghanistan and as transit hub for Iran. After ban on Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan many farmers and producers shifted here in Pakistan and security compromised areas are now main centers of Poppy and Cannabis cultivation. Ministry of interior and narcotics control Pakistan established Anti narcotic Force under Act 1997 to combat drug trafficking and also to take preventive measure against narcotic abuse. The main pillars of anti-narcotics policy are supply and demand reduction. Anti-narcotic force conduct operations against drug producers, manufacturers and traffickers. For demand reduction ANF implement awareness campaigns through engaging print electronic and social media for general population and youth especially. ANF also provide treatment and rehabilitation service at MATRCs (Model Addict Treatment and rehabilitation centers.) Regardless the input activities of ANF and other partner departments and agencies drug abuse among general population and youth is rising persistently and became unbearable public health and socioeconomic burden. This serious issue requires comprehensive integrated approach with support of federal and provincial stakeholders. This research aims to analyze the extent and causes of drug abuse among youth in Pakistan and critically evaluate the role of the Anti-Narcotics Force in addressing this issue. The study also explores the effectiveness of existing policies, institutional mechanisms, and awareness programs in preventing drug abuse and proposes policy recommendations to strengthen the national response against narcotics.