The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade and it t is observed annually on 26 June, since 1989. The UN’s 2007 World Drug Report puts the value of the illegal drug trade at US$322 billion a year.
It is pleasing that Pakistan is successfully maintaining poppy-free status since 2001, but on the other side it is also hard to deny the fact that drug abuse in Pakistan has reached at alarming level. Reliable surveys have revealed that just over three percent population of the country is victim of the drug abuse. It is also being reported that figures could be much higher as many people do not share such information because the subject and use of drugs are considered taboos in our society.
Though there are institutions and laws intact to control the inflow of drugs and discourage its use, but experts are of the view that there is need to talk openly on the issue and this issue should not be considered as taboo. Since drugs are a taboo, no one talks about it. This lack of dialogue makes people vulnerable to fall for the attraction that drugs carry. There is need to establish a narrative, that is absent at present, on consumption of drugs that discusses all aspects of evil effects of drug abuse. There is need to openly talk on the issue about its affects and how to get rid of from consuming substances that are extremely harmful. We hesitate usually to talk on the issue and it is one of the prime reasons that numbers of people taking drugs is increasing. According to a study conducted by United Nations in 2013, 40,000 people become drug addicts in Pakistan each year. Such a high increase has made Pakistan one of the most drug-affected countries in the world.
In Pakistan authorities also celebrate the day as highest state officials make tall claims to make Pakistan free from drugs. But in reality there is a lot more needs to be done to make country free from drugs, more funds allocation, treatment facilities for the victims, providing free treatment to those who can’t afford treatment can surely make the target easy to make Pakistan a drug free state. Serious efforts are required to achieve the desired results.
