National Drug Use Survey 2022-24
26 October 2022
Dr. Jassim Taqui DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic
Studies
Islamabad, October
27, 2022: Drug abuse has emerged as an issue potentially endangering human society
in terms of health hazards, crimes, money laundering, economic & terrorism,
etc. it becomes even more challenging and threatening when dynamics of drug
abuse and varieties of drugs and fast-changing and spreading without any
boundaries, which is leading to an exponential rise in drug abuse across the
globe in general and Pakistan in specific. Pakistan, being contiguous to major
drug-producing areas, is more prone and susceptible to drug abuse which has
manifested in the increased number of addicts across the country.
Given the increased vulnerability of youth in terms of drug abuse, there
is a dire need to study its dynamics in Pakistan based on factual data, to
understand the underlying causes. In the backdrop, the Government of Pakistan
is launching a survey called, “National Drug Use Survey 2022-23” to collect
data related to trends in drugs abuse, factors behind such indulgence, and
consequents impacts on the fabric of society, which shall subsequently enable
the stakeholders to formulate an appropriate, comprehensive and effective
policy to cope with this menace on fronts of prevention, treatment,
rehabilitation, and awareness.
Keeping in view the global nature of the challenge, we must reiterate
shared responsibility. A balanced, integrated, and proactive approach shall
enable the achievement of the goals and objectives of drug abuse prevention and
awareness. We, therefore, need to join hands to check the spread of drug abuse to
safeguard our societies.
This year the World Drug Report 2022 revealed an
estimated 284 million people worldwide had used drugs in 2020. Cannabis remains
by far the world’s most-used drug, and the report also notes an increase in the
use of amphetamines. Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people
worldwide injected drugs during the period of the study. Around half of this
number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2
million were living with both.
Dr. Jeremy Milsom Representative UNODC in his
welcome remarks thanked Mr. Nawabzada Shazain Bugti, Federal Minister for
Narcotics Control, and his Ministry for their support in taking lead on the
survey and U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs (INL) for their gracious financial support to conduct the
national drug use survey and drug prevention and treatment interventions in the
country.
Mr. Andrew J. Schofer – Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S.
Embassy Islamabad in his speech thanked the Federal Minister for Narcotics
Control, UNODC, and other dignitaries for their partnership. DCM Schofer
further stated that “through this project, the U.S. Embassy’s International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will support the Government of
Pakistan to provide evidence-based information to shed light on changing
patterns of drug use and allow for stronger implementation of programs and
refinement of policies. The United States is proud to partner with the
Government of Pakistan on drug demand reduction efforts. To date, INL has
provided $24 million U.S. dollars – that’s 522 million Pakistani rupees – of
support for drug treatment and prevention efforts in Pakistan. I am also
pleased to share with you that this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of
the partnership between the United States and Pakistan. The U.S.
government, through INL, has invested more than 1 billion dollars over the last
40 years to improve citizen security and enhance law enforcement capacity
across Pakistan.”
Ms. Humaira Ahmed Federal Secretary Ministry of Narcotics
Control in her speech appreciated UNODC for their technical assistance in
conducting the national drug use survey and the U.S. Department of State’s
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for their
generous support for the national drug use survey and drug prevention and
treatment interventions in the country.
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