Sir: This is regarding the increasingly acute problem of drug abuse among teenagers in Pakistan. That the number of young drug abusers continues to climb in the territory is terribly worrying. Not only are there more teenagers becoming addicted to drugs, but there are also more kinds of drugs being abused and it is now even easier for teenagers to get hold of drugs. Society, Including young people themselves, needs to urgently address this challenge and create a better future for young people. First and foremost, with a sizeable amount of resources at its disposal, the government should allocate more of its resources to deal with the issue. Special training should be given to social workers as well as teachers in order to equip them with sufficient knowledge about drugs and drug abuse and to up skill these professionals to enable them to better deal with teenage drug abusers. Through training, social workers and teachers would be aware of the latest developments in the field of drug abuse, such as the drugs currently being used and the trends in cross-border drug dealing. Without such knowledge, social workers and teachers cannot help combat the problem. At the same time, schools, with the aid of social workers, ought to promote the anti-drug message. Talks and seminars should be held to teach youngster about the consequence of drug abuse, such as the damage to their kidneys, heart and brain. Students should also be warned not to become involved in drug-related crimes, for example selling drugs, as they will end up with criminal records which will not be able to be erased. Without doubt, the anti-drug message in schools must be clear and strong enough to prevent students from experimenting with drugs. Despite all that the government, schools and families are currently doing to prevent drug abuse, the number of young drug abusers is still increasing. I believe the key to solving the drug abuse problem lies with teenagers themselves. It is their responsibility to resist the temptation of drugs. I sincerely hope that teenagers in Pakistan, as well as those all around the world, take this to heart and create a better, drug free future for themselves and their peers. Bakhtawar Zakir Karachi Published in Daily Times, March 13th 2018.