By: Zainab Bashir Ahmed
Drug addiction is an inability to stop oneself from extreme use of drugs, it is such a disease that causes mental breakdown, anxiety, depression also such effects that might harm a person physically also affects brain and behavior. Drugs become an addiction at such a certain level for a person when they continuously consume them. It is more likely considered a disease in Pakistan. This is one of those taboo issues that people rarely consider having a talk on it.
Pakistan is fighting against out-of-control drug use and trying to figure out possible solutions to provide youth rehabilitation centers, awareness campaigns, and secure future aims through advertisements to get rid of this disease. As per a 2013 report on drugs by the United Nations Office On Drugs And Crime (UNODC), almost 6.7 million people are taking drugs in Pakistan. The report also revealed that people, from age 15 to 64 use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. This is an alarming problem in the country, the youth of Pakistan is suffering from substance abuse disorder (SUD). It has many reasons, for example, lack of communication gap between families, mental health disorders. The person who is addicted to drugs might feel that he has a need to consume drugs every day, the patient spends money on it even if you are empty pocket. A person might find no ways to give up on drugs and eventually fails to stop consumption. The continuing use of drugs even if the individual knows that it is causing them physical harm or it’s affecting them mentally, might feel various swear disorders as well. They make certain ways that could supply them drugs on a regular basis according to their need, and also might need drugs for a longer time to feel the same effects, side effects. The person also might feel certain changes in themselves when they try to quit or maybe they try to cut down consumption for time being, these can be symptoms in their mental state of mind. Drugs like opioid painkillers can increase the risk of addiction more quickly as compared to other drugs. Drug addiction can start with the experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people the drug use will become greater common for others specifically with opioids, drug dependency starts off evolved with publicity to prescribed medications, or receiving medicinal drugs from a pal or relative who has been prescribed the medication.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan has 6.7 million drug users. More than 4 million of these are addicts, amongst the greater number of any country in the world. Drug consumption will increase significantly during times of transition. The usage of illicit pills and the non-clinical use of prescription drugs are established and extensively regarded phenomena in Pakistan. The difficulty of non-medical use of pharmaceuticals has always remained a project for health administrators. The National Ministry of Health Reforms and Provincial Health Departments never undertake any scientific study/ research to become aware of the gravity of non-scientific use of pharmaceuticals and their consequences. The psychological, biological, social, as properly cultural elements ( e.g Conventional use of cannabis and heroin), mixed with the smooth access to an abundance of managed materials within the U.S.A, have likely resulted in a large number of people experimenting or using pills for recreational functions as well as growing drug use issues and dependence. In addition to this geographical area of Pakistan with Afghanistan, the biggest opium manufacturer within the world has made Pakistan more vulnerable to drugs (weed & heroin), between 15 to 35 people end their lives in Pakistan every day. That’s as high as one person every hour.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in 2012 the rate of suicide in Pakistan was 7.5 per 100,000 people. In other words, around 13,000 people killed themselves that year.
In 2016 the estimate was 2.9 per 100,000 i.e. over 5,500 ended their lives. Experts say the number of people dying is likely somewhere between the two figures, but the truth remains hidden. Around 8.9 million people in Pakistan are drug addicts while 700 people die every day in the country due to drug-related complications making the deaths related to drugs greater than those caused by terrorism. Commonly the drugs are supplied from Afghanistan, the country that is responsible for at least 75% of the world’s heroin. More than three million Pakistanis between the ages of 15 and 64 use heroin regularly and there are almost five million cannabis users addicted to smoking high-grade hashish called ‘charas’. Globally, 1 in 20 adults or 250 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 years are drug addicts according to recent reports.
Since the drugs are extremely cheap and easily available in the country, the suppliers or dealers are not even accountable in front of anyone, this may lead the generation to exploitation of their health, the authorities should take possible steps to overcome this issue, they should take suppliers and dealers into accountability, the world is still fighting against this issue and the fight remains continue.
The addiction can cause serious effects on the mind and body of an addict. It is a sort of mind disease, ordinary consumption of drugs disrupts the proper functioning of the brain. The uncontrollable desire to devour capsules results to be worse everyday for a long run an addict finds it impossible to manipulate the intake of medication.
An everyday person addicted to drugs loses the efficiency of running. One who is a drug addict can’t fulfill his or her obligations in a desirable way.
The personal fitness of a person is totally misplaced whilst he or she emerges as a drug addict. One that consumes more capsules regularly often experiences tension, despair, fatigue, headache, sweating, insomnia etc.
The repeated and ordinary use of medication departs psychological effects on a person too. Many bodily and intellectual problems appear in a man or woman who makes use of capsules on a normal basis.
Many respiratory illnesses, coronary heart assault, lung cancer, kidney failure, liver troubles and brain harm are often brought on by the consumption of drugs. The immune system of man is badly affected due to capsules. Drug addiction may be very hard to end, folks who are addicted need to be handled tenderly to stop terrible habits. One that consumes greater tablets she or he must be informed of unwell consequences of medication. It’s far more important to hold capsules off in order that one who isn’t indulged in it continue to be a long way from it. Though dependency of medication is very tough to save you but there are some steps that may be taken to help prevent consumption of drugs.
All people who are laid low with mental issues or are victims of despair and stress need to be taken to a psychiatrist in order that their mental illness is cured and they emerge as able to give up tablets. People should discover ways to cope with stress and strain, the excellent manner to dispose of pressure is to address it well no longer to take pills.
The writer is a law student and works with ‘The Dayspring’, she writes on taboo issues and has been part of campaigns for women’s rights. She can be reached at [email protected].
