Campuses becoming drug dens, warns educationist

Over 43% students use narcotics, says WB report

KARACHI:

According to the World Bank's 2019 report, 43 per cent of young people in Pakistan's educational institutions are using alcohol and other narcotics.

Doctors have warned that this trend is having severe negative effects on students' mental and physical health and academic performance.

To address this issue, Ziauddin University organized the 22nd Ziauddin University Dialogue on the topic "The Growing Threat of Drug Addiction in Educational Institutions". The purpose was to raise awareness about the alarming increase in drug use in educational institutions, identify its root causes, and promote cooperation among students, teachers, and parents to ensure campus safety.

Professor Dr. Nida Hussain, Pro-Chancellor of Ziauddin University, said that drug addiction in our educational institutions has become a ticking time bomb, threatening the future of an entire generation. It is not a minor issue but a full-blown crisis. It is a war, and we need to wake up our youth.

Dr. Nida Hussain said that educational institutions, once sanctuaries for learning, are being used as centres for the distribution of illicit substances. However, Ziauddin University has enforced strict zero-tolerance policies.

Dr. Salman Shahzad, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Karachi, highlighted alarming statistics from a 2019 World Bank report, showing that 43% of youth in Pakistan are using substances ike meth and alcohol. He emphasized the urgent need for national intervention.

Dr. Sarah Jehangir, Principal of the College of Clinical Psychology at Ziauddin University, advocated open dialogues to address factors like stress and peer pressure and guide students toward recovery.

Dr. Umair Mahmood Siddiqui, an Islamic scholar, stressed the importance of holistic upbringing, including ethical and spiritual development, to guide children toward purposeful lives.

Former cricketer Sikandar Bakht urged parents to engage as both friends and guides to prevent issues like drug addiction.