Drug use increases during pandemic

Reports say 460 homeless addicts died in 2021

LAHORE:

At least 460 drug addicts died in the streets and parks of Lahore during the past year.

The consultant of a social organisation, Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, said while presenting the annual report for 2021 of an anti-narcotics campaign that an addict spent an average Rs450 to Rs1,000 per day on drugs.

He said 460 homeless addicts were found dead at sidewalks, roads and parks in Lahore during the year. The number of unidentified drug addicts found dead was high in the Data Darbar and Bhati Gate areas.

The expert warned that drug use among young people was on the rise, including among girls.

Complaints of drug use were also received from students of some well-known educational institutions, on which the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and police arrested six drug dealers active near universities and colleges.

Zulfiqar Hussain said it was estimated that 80 per cent of the drugs in the city were ordered through mobile phone and WhatsApp.

Read: "Two drug smuggling attempts foiled"

He said drug addiction among members of affluent families had increased since the outbreak of coronavirus due to economic uncertainty and mental stress.

On the other hand, divorces increased because of addiction, affecting whole families.

The report revealed that the use of crystal Ice, cocaine, heroin and LSD pills among the upper class youths increased during the year.

There were many cases of addicts not only committing robberies to buy drugs but also attacking their parents, spouses and children, or even killing them.

The consultant said drug abuse was more prevalent in the areas of Muslim Town, Shimla Hill, Regal Chowk, Panorama Centre, The Mall road, Mozang, Ganga Ram Hospital, Ali Park, Data Darbar, Bhati Gate, Taxali Gate, Bird Market, Multan Road, Chauburji, Sabzazar, Thokar Niaz Baig Kahna, Mughalpura, Lal Pul, Ekmoriah Bridge, Railway Station, Misri Shah, Shadbagh, Lorry Ada, Badami Bagh, Shahdara, Imamia Colony, Dharampura, Ichhra and Wahdat Road.

Syed Zulfiqar Hussain said that no new hospital beds were provided in 2021 for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

He said 30,000 drug addicts in Lahore were in urgent need of treatment.

The expert lamented that the health profile of about 80% of students in the city had not bee completed.

The ANF registered 276 cases, arrested 269 persons and seized a variety of drugs worth billions of rupees in the province.

Read: "Substance abuse : Drug rehabilitation programmes missing despite rise of addiction"

The traffickers also tried to smuggle drugs hidden in CNG cylinders and LCDs installed in vehicles.

Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Director General Rizwan Akram said while speaking to The Express Tribune that institutional reforms were being implemented to successfully curb drug addiction along with adoption of modern technology and legislative measures.

He said more effective action against drugs would be launched soon with approval by the provincial government of the required steps.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2022.