Drug abuse

PESHAWAR: There has been an alarming rise in use of narcotics and drugs among students at universities in Pakistan. Recently, two students of a well-known university in Islamabad were arrested for selling drugs to university students. On the directives of the Islamabad High Court, the police have begun an operation to cleanse the educational institutions of this menace. Normally, students find it easy to deal in the drugs business or use them uncontrollably due to the police being out of touch. The university’s administration is also normally lenient to the abuse of drugs on the campuses.



There are many causes of increasing the number of students becoming prone to drug abuse. The easily availability of drugs and narcotics have made students attractive to them. The rigid scheme of studies and lack of co-curricular activities at many universities is also responsible for drug abuse among students. Sometimes, students seek refuge in drug abuse to get rid of the study overburden. The lack of amusement and other activities important for personality development on campuses attract students to drugs.



University administrations should take serious note of the drug abuse on campuses. They should provide alternative sources of recreation to discourage its use. Student unions at universities should be activated to provide students with platforms to exhaust their energies. Also, awareness programmes at universities should be conducted to educate students about the negative effects of drugs.

Sayyad A Khan

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2017.

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