New drugs meant to trap young generation, especially girls

Islamabad: New drugs that are getting increasingly popular among youth, especially girls, are as damaging as cigarettes and government need to utilize all its resources to ban such products that are openly available in the market.

The views were expressed at a meeting of a delegation of anti-tobacco activists with Chairperson National Commission for Child Rights Afshan Tehseen Bajwa on Wednesday.

The delegation included General Secretary Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) Sana Ullah Ghumman, Country Head for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Malik Imran and spokesperson of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Children (SPARC) Khalil Ahmed.

On this occasion, Chairperson National Commission for Child Rights Afshan Tehseen Bajwa said that the government is using its resources to rid society of drugs. She said that along with government, parents should also focus on educating their children. “A healthy young generation is the bright future of Pakistan,” she added.

The delegation members agreed that in order to build a drug-free society, it is necessary for the government to use all its resources as smoking is the first step towards becoming addicted to drugs.

They said that the use of nicotine pouches continues to increase in the younger generation which dangerous for their health. They warned that younger generation, especially girls, are being pushed towards using a new brand using nicotine pouches.

Afshan Tahseen Bajwa agreed with the principled position of the delegation and said that the new brand is a threat to the health of the young generation and it must be kept out of their reach.