LAHORE – Over 8 million people across the country are drug addicts as the usage of drugs or narcotics has increased in society alarmingly during the last decade, a report says.
According to a special report released by the Chairman Youth Council for Anti-Narcotics (YOCFAN) Syed Zulfiaqar Hussaibn, mostly the young generation is suffering from drugs/narcotics with the age group between 12 to 30 years. He said that different cities of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Attock, Faisalabad, Rawalapindi, Gujrat, Sargodha, Mainwali, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Okara and Kasur are mostly affected and called A Class regarding drug abuse. According to the report, Attock, Mianwali and Rahim Yar Khan are called the “Gateway” in drug trafficking from other areas of the country. Heroin, Charas, Bhang, Alcohol, opium and different tablets and injection can also available in the market. Naswar, Tobacco, Pan, Gutka and different chemicals are also part of normal addiction.
The report says the Metropolitan City has thousands of drug addicts as the soft drugs are available easily in gardens, footpaths and different areas of the City. The Chairman further said that Lakshami Chowk, Datadarbar, Ali Park behind Badshai Mosque, Railway Station, Badamai Bagh, Sandha, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Chahmiran, Faizbagh, Bund Road, Shahdhra, Bagbanpura, Mughlpura, Ichhra, Misri Shah, Saddar Bazar, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Kot Lakphat, Township, Green Town and Old City etc are the hubs of the narcotics sale. He says the treatment facilities are not providing on high level. “Only 55 beds allocated for drug addicts in four hospitals of Lahore which includes Mayo, Jinnah and Sir Ganga Ram. Private hospitals are also open in various parts of the City where treatment was very expensive,” he added.