The increasing use of drugs in educational institutions has come under fire at a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control. Legislative panels have regularly been expressing concern at the rising substance abuse among the youth of the country. Unfortunately, not much perceptible change is being witnessed on the ground as is evident from the observations of the Senate panel. The legislative body also expressed anxiety over the rising smuggling of narcotics into the country.
While drug abuse has continuously been on an upward trajectory, the Anti-Narcotics Force has complained that it is being hampered by shortage of manpower and funds. The director general of the ANF told the Senate panel they were carrying out the instructions of the ministry of narcotics control but were hamstrung by a paucity of manpower and by financial constraints. He said the ANF and the relevant ministry were dealing with the drug menace with a multi-pronged strategy: targeting drug supply and demand; and organising seminars and workshop — for which the government has allocated Rs7.8 million — to highlight the harmful effects of substance abuse. The federal minister for narcotics control informed the panel that synthetic drugs were extremely harmful, and they were being manufactured within the country. He stressed the need for a proper workforce to control the drug menace. He asked for a briefing by the adviser to the PM on finance and other relevant officials on providing the needed funds and allowing new posts in the ANF.
Drug abuse is an attempt to escape from reality, and the government too seems to be doing the same by not providing the required funds to the ANF. Despite all the pious talks about controlling drug abuse, it remains a fact that in elite society those who don’t use drugs are treated as pariah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2020.
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