KARACHI: Socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, lack of education, and peer pressure have been termed significant risk factors for drug use during adolescence and teenage by experts at a conference.

They also warn that party drugs and synthetic drugs are being widely used by youngsters and drug peddlers are using new methods to spread their products among young girls and boys in society.

They called for preventative measures, including early education to prevent drug or alcohol use and starting evidence-based programmes in families, schools, and communities to tackle the menace.

The experts were speaking at the Second National Conference on Substance Use and Mental Health Comorbidities in Youth: Challenges and Opportunities in Prevention and Treatment organised by the Institute of Clinical Psychology of the University of Karachi at the Prof Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences on Wednesday.

Experts highlight socio-economic factors behind substance abuse in society

At the daylong event speakers mentioned that more than six per cent of the total population of Pakistan had used substances other than alcohol and tobacco.

They shared that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2020 highlighted that the highest rate of drug use was observed in individuals aged 18-25, which could be applied to the young population in Pakistan as well.

It underscored the importance of addressing substance use prevention and treatment among young people.

They further shared that socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment, contributed to substance use while accessibility to drugs and peer pressure played significant roles in both Pakistan and globally in that connection.

The experts also informed the audience about the complex relationship between substance use and domestic violence.

They mentioned that cannabis remained the most commonly used drug in Pakistan, followed by opiates (heroin or opium), stimulants (amphetamine-type stimulants and cocaine), and non-medical use of prescription drugs.

Injection drug abuse is a growing concern, raising fears of an HIV epidemic in the country. A rapid increase in the use of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, has been witnessed in the region, they said.

According to them, risk factors should be addressed and awareness campaigns should be lunched to each corner of Pakistan to educate individuals about harms of substance use and where to seek help.

Addressing the inaugural session, KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said initially climate change and mental health problems were termed “Western propaganda, but today the country is facing their effects”.

“We need to accept the facts and make decisions accordingly.”

The KU vice chancellor urged the government to adopt strict measures on an urgent basis to prevent the rapidly increasing drug use in the country.

Another speaker, Anti-Narcotics Force Regional Director Brigadier Umar Farooq, said that parents should keep an eye on their children and make sure that they do not have friendships with people who consume, sell, or purchase drugs.

He shared that party drugs and synthetic drugs were being used by youngsters and drug peddlers were using new methods to spread their products among young girls and boys.

The addictive material is being used to increase businesses and attract customers as well, he revealed.

The Principal Investigator of the Local Challenge Fund Project and faculty member Professor Dr Salman Shahzad shed light on the aims and objectives of the LCF Project and presented the project progress report.

He said individuals within the age range of 15-50 years were most susceptible to drug abuse, with a significant portion doing drugs during adolescence.

According to him, both plant-based and chemical forms of substances are being abused, like cannabis, opiates, pain relief medications, cigarettes, and others.

He mentioned that the reasons for initiating substance use were multifaceted, including socio-economic factors such as poverty, malnutrition, low levels of education, and population density, as well as psychological factors like peer pressure, mood disorders, and interpersonal stressors.

Director of KU ICP Professor Dr Uzma Ali, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Dr Shaista Tabassum also spoke on this occasion.

Professor Dr Nasim Chaudhry, a consultant psychiatrist, and Dr Nargis Asad from Agha Khan University delivered the keynote addresses.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2024