Daily Times

Sir: The statistics of drug abuse in Pakistan compiled by Drug Use in Pakistan, 2013, has shocked the legal and medical fraternities. According to this report, more than 4.2 million people are suffering from drug addiction. Most of the time habit-forming drugs are used for recreational purposes. But with time, the body demands frequent use, until a time reaches when the person can no longer function normally in the absence of such drugs.

In Pakistan opium extracts (hashish and heroin) and Indian hemp are commonly used items.
Criminology directly links social crimes and law and order situations to drug usage. The repetitive use of these chemicals causes psychological dependence. When financial and legal constrains make drugs unobtainable, people show violent behaviour and resort to theft, robbery, abduction for ransom, targeted killing and other street crimes.
Sociology too blames addiction for disturbing social peace and progress. Compulsive and persistent use of illegal chemicals makes individuals numb to family responsibilities. People are no longer able to carry on jobs, resulting in unemployment, poverty and poor living standards. Marriage relations can no more be sustained. This troubled family institutional structure can never guarantee a peaceful and stable society.
The government alone cannot force every addict to get himself admitted to rehabilitation centres nor does it have the resources to build such a large number of institutions. Rather the state can help by importing technical services, information, skills and donors to let private health service providers play their role.
Dr Zaib Ali Shaheryar
Multan