ISLAMABAD: Scores of students of various universities and colleges in Islamabad have allegedly fallen prey to drug addiction, while police and the management seem helpless to stop the wicked activity. According to sources, students are spending a hefty amount to purchase cocaine and other drugs. It was learnt that a gram of cocaine was being sold for Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 depending upon the quality. Furthermore, the network of drug dealers is so strong that it is very easy to buy cocaine on just a phone call, and the service is available 24 hours. While talking to a private television channel on Saturday, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that around 250,000 students we4r getting education in the federal capital and all educational institutions had been declared as no smoking zones. The minister claimed that there was strict scrutiny of all prohibited materials at the educational institutes and the authorities concerned were keeping a check on such type of activities in the areas adjacent to universities and colleges as well. He said it was also the parents’ duty to monitor the activities of their children. According to surveys by a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), there are about nine million drug addicts in Pakistan, of which the two million are within the age bracket of 15 to 25 and a vast majority of them are studying in schools, colleges and universities. About 50 percent students in various educational institutions in Islamabad and Lahore are addicted to different kinds of drugs. The vast majority of students belong to elite class since they have no issue of affordability and have comparatively fewer checks from parents. The alarming trend of drug abuse in educational institutions has put the lives of students at risk, both physically and mentally. Due to acute drug addiction, the students are unable to concentrate on their studies in a proper way. Published in Daily Times, January 21st 2018.