Opiate prevention

This refers to the news report, ‘Opiate abuse among Pakistanis rises’ (March 9). The International Narcotics Control Board’s 2014 report warned Pakistan of a surge in opium consumption among the younger generation, the use of needles and rise in HIV infections. Likewise, the consumption of cannabis indica has witnessed an enormous increase.
The answer to all these problems lies in ‘prevention’. The government should create awareness about the hazards of opiate use through the media. Health education should be made part of curriculum. Students should continuously be educated about the hazards of drugs. Prayer leaders, political cadres, NGOs, social, religious and international organisations should be involved in creating awareness about the hazards of drugs. Facilities should be created for early detection of abuses, their early management on sound lines and ultimate rehabilitation. Drug trafficking should be checked by employing foolproof security measures in cooperation with international organisations.
Professor emeritus Dr Mahmud Ahmad Akhtar
Rawalpindi