‘685 deaths a day from drug use or overdose worldwide’

As many as 685 deaths per day are occurring across the globe due to drug usage or overdose -- quite higher than the deaths resulting from terrorism. 

This was stated by the joint director of the Anti-Narcotics Force Sindh, Colonel Asim, during a seminar on the prevention of drug abuse held at the Department of Social Work, University of Karachi, on Thursday. 

The guests included Farheen Naveed from the Drug-Free Pakistan Foundation, Rev Julian Justin from the Ibtida Drug Rehabilitation Centre, SSP Investigation South Faizullah Korejo and Professor Dr Ahmed Qadri, the dean, Faculty of Social Science, KU.

The world’s drug economy is around $435 billion, and about $225 billion would be required to treat drug patients globally.

Colonel Asim said narcotics were destroying our society and youth. Global drug trade occurring from Afghanistan made its way from Pakistan, and that was why it mostly affected our people, he said.

He mentioned that around 40 percent of narcotics from Afghanistan were smuggled to other countries through Pakistan, and the police and excise and taxation had the responsibility to stop drug usage on streets or locally.

Discussing about the performance of the ANF Sindh, he said that in 2016, 215 metric tons of narcotics had been seized by the force having a total worth of around $3,759 million.

“Karachi and Sukkur are the hub of narcotics in Sindh. The most recovered drug is hashish, followed by heroin, opium and cocaine in Pakistan. Heroin drugs are even seized from juice bottles.”

He shared that the major signs of drug usage were disturbance of sleep, emotionally instable, irresponsible behaviour and loss of decision-making power. He pointed out that Lyari, Baldia, Golimar, Hub Chowki, New Karachi, Orangi Town, Saddar Town were the commonly residing areas of drug addicts.

Colonel Asim said 59 percent of people of drug addicts in Pakistan were from the age group 20-29, only one percent of drug addicts were graduates, 57 percent of drug addicts were unemployed and 47 percent took drugs due to peer pressure.

He further noted that one gram of heroin was worth $300 while the largest consignment the ANF Sindh seized till to date was 375 kilograms of heroin. He claimed that the ANF Pakistan had been declared one of the best anti-narcotics agencies of the world by the United Nations Office of Drugs Control.

SSP South Faizullah Korejo, in his speech, termed drugs a cancer for society.

Sharing his experience, Korejo said when he was posted at Lyari, a small packet of Charas was available for merely Rs100 and heroin sold for just Rs500. “The children from rich and educated families are using and providing drugs for enjoyment purposes.

Street children are more vulnerable to drugs since they have no one to guide. Mostly drugs are available for sale at bus terminals. The source of drugs must be checked and eradicated from the society.”

Discussing the laws regarding drugs, Korejo mentioned that there was no punishment for usage of drugs according to the law. “You can carry less than 100 grams of drugs freely and if the amount exceeds 100 grams then you could be convicted for trade of drugs. The major causes of drug usage are poverty, unemployment and illiteracy.”

He said former army chief General Raheel Sharif must be given credit for ordering the fencing of the Pak-Afghan border since it would curtail the drug trade from Afghanistan to Pakistan by up to 85 percent.

Dr Muhammad Shahid of the Department of Social Work emphasised the need for rehabilitation, counselling and awareness of drugs prevention, saying that the society must be well aware of the abuses of drugs and how they were destroying our society and younger generation.

“We must organise such sorts of seminars in order to raise awareness, especially for our youth and students.”