Drug abuse has been a problem in Karachi, Pakistan. According to a 2005 survey, there are about 3.5 million drug abusers in Pakistan, with an annual growth rate of 7%. The research found that peer pressure is the main influencing factor for drug abuse. Charas (cannabis) and cocaine are the most commonly abused substances. Drugs are easily available for purchase across the city. The research recommends increasing drug education and prevention programs, treatment options, media awareness campaigns, stronger law enforcement, and greater parental involvement to help address the problem of drug abuse in Karachi.

1. DRUG ABUSE IN KARACHI UzmaShahid Salman Zia MubashirShahid

2. DRUG ABUSE “Drug abuse is ‘a persistent and usually excessive self-administration of any drug which has resulted in psychological or physical dependence or which deviates from the approved social pattern of the culture’”. ITHAS BEEN WITH MANKIND FROM THE BEGINNING Predating 4000BC: Early Egyptians traced to have been Wine drinkers 4000 BC: Narcotics; and by 2737 B.C: Medicinal use of marijuana in China.

3. SOME STARTLING WORLD STATISTICS BASED ON UNODC DATA

4. Pre partition > a licensing system allowing for legalized production of opium in the region. Islamization > Hudood Ordinance > BAN on the cultivation, production, sale and use of narcotics within Pakistan. The new law closed the door for legal outlets of drugs but marked the start of illegal availability and use. HISTORICALLY and even today Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (in particular) and Baluchistan (to a smaller extent), along the Western terrain of Pakistan, serve as sources of opium(Amount though is quite small)

5. According to a survey in 2005 there are about 3.5 million drug abusers in Pakistan, and they are growing at an annual rate of 7%.

6. Law enforcing agencies: Anti Narcotics Force(ANF) Frontier Corps (FC), Pakistan Customs, Police Pakistan Rangers Airport Security Force (ASF) Pakistan Coast Guards

7. RESEATCHG RESEARCH Drug Abuse in Karachi OBJECTIVE Why is it happening? Who is the abuser? What substances are being abused? Is their guilt about this behavior? Are drugs readily available across the city? METHODOLOGY Primary research: Focus Group Secondary Research: Literature review, past research paper, Government website and documents

12. Become an essential part of their life

13. Substance mainlyabused : Charas

14. Adverse impact on studies though mixed response about their health

15. Financing via Pocket money but stolen at desperate times

16. Easily available

17. Noremorse

19. Peer pressure above all others is the influencing factor

20. Charas or cocaine is the most consumed drug

21. The remorse with regards to drug usage is low

22. No help is being sought by the abusers