Daily Times

LAHORE: A special cell would be established at the Lahore Mayor Office soon to develop a policy to combat rising drug abuse among teens, especially students.

These views were expressed by Lahore Mayor Colonel (r) Mubashir Javaid during an event titled ‘Drug Addiction and Community’ at the Drug Advisory Training Hub organised by the Youth Council for Anti-Narcotics (YOCFAN) here on Wednesday.

The mayor said that parents could play a vital role in curbing drug addiction in the society but “unfortunately they were not taking the issue seriously”.

Anti-Narcotics Campaign consultant Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, UC-124 Chairman Rafiq Khan and vice chairman Kashif Ch were also present.

Mubashir Javaid showed grave concern over drug abuse in educational institutions, saying: “My focus is to curb drug abuse among teens as two students have died due to drug addiction in the last couple of weeks.”

“We must seek support and technical assistance from other international organisations working in drug demand reduction and rehabilitation programmes in the provincial capital, he said, and Syed Zulfiqar Hussain efforts for his work against drugs abuse and assured him of his all-out support in this regard.

Syed Zulfiqar Hussain said that a majority of youth were taking hard and soft drugs at parks, gardens, drains, and near waste bins, footpaths and different areas of the city on a daily basis.

“The walled city and sour ending areas have become drug dens for drug addicts. Students of different educational institutions are using hard and soft drugs and female students are no exception when it comes to drug abuse,” he added.

He said that a campaign against drug abuse at educational institution would be amplified by strengthening drug demand reduction services in Pakistan.

He stressed the need to educate students, youth and community at large about hazards of drug addiction.