As the world marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the scale of the problem today is bigger than ever before.

Cristina von Sperling Afridi leads the Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation, which works to raise awareness about drug abuse and addiction among young people.

Named after her son, Karim, who she lost a couple of years ago, the foundation works with the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) as well as the Narcotics Control Division, and have also conducted theatrical performances at the Pakistan National Council of Arts. Dawn spoke to Ms Afridi about her work and the problems surrounding drug abuse in Pakistan.

Q: What are some of the factors that could lead to substance abuse in Pakistan?

A: According to the ANF, Pakistan has seven million drug addicts – not counting those addicted to prescription drugs. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, there are around three million addicts. So the question really is: what is the government’s commitment to [the cause] of the 120 million youth below the age of 25?

This is a generation that grew up witnessing tragedy, such as the tragic APS attack. For a child, they have a few places where they feel safe; their homes, their schools and their places of worship. But today’s children are growing up seeing savagery committed in all these places. In addition, there are no activities for young people, everything is boring for them. The only tangible way forward is prevention. For that, you have to educate, engage, give love, keep them busy. If one stays idle, they can think of something wrong [to do].

Q: In Pakistan, drug addiction is stigmatised and often seen as a moral failing rather than an illness. How does this effect our ability to reach out to those struggling with addiction?

A: It is human condition, it can happen to anyone. Today, we can find many factors to blame, such as peer pressure, but at the end of the day, you [indulge] with your own hand.

Prevention is a shared responsibility [that cuts across] social class and family. What happened to us… could happen to anyone. But what is even more frustrating is that we were the first ones to talk about this taboo subject. There were other cases too, but the families denied the cause.

[The foundation] welcomes with open arms – we’re not a rehab but we collaborate with rehabs. Those facilities have to be reviewed, because there are some that call themselves rehabilitation centres, but I don’t know what qualifications they have.

An addiction is a very human weakness, but when you’ve grown up, you can control it. Our focus is on teenagers, because we want to make them understand… moderation and balance

Q: When we talk about drug abuse, the conversation is often limited to illegal drugs. What is the situation surrounding the abuse of prescription drugs in Pakistan?

A: Violent crimes such as rape and all kinds of brutal things are linked to drugs; not just illicit drugs but also those that are available over the counter. In Pakistan… there is a lack of control of prescription drugs. You can even send [domestic help] to fetch over-the-counter tranquilisers – nobody cares.

Abroad, you have to have a doctor’s prescription, which is government regulated. Psychiatrists hand out prescriptions only after collecting all the necessary data, and then too, the prescription is only valid for three days.

We are always talking about [legal drugs]… but here, people are taking drugs such as horse tranquilliser, which can paralyse your body and is easily available.

These prescription drugs has made the whole world an addict. These days you have a pill for everything; a pill to wake up, to go to sleep, to do this and that – everything is in a capsule.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016