KU conference underlines Pakistan struggle with rising substance use epidemic

The Institute of Clinical Psychology of the University of Karachi organized a second national conference on ‘substance use and mental health comorbidities in youth: challenges and opportunities in prevention and treatment’ at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium of the KU’s International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences on Wednesday.

Speakers at the daylong event mentioned that more than six percent of the total population of Pakistan had used substances other than alcohol and tobacco. They shared that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2020 highlighted that the highest rate of drug use was observed in individuals aged 18–25, which can be applied to the youth population in Pakistan as well, it underscores the importance of addressing substance use prevention and treatment among young people.

They further shared that socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment, contribute to substance use, and accessibility to drugs and peer pressure play significant roles in both Pakistan and globally.

The experts informed the audience that relationships, where substance use and domestic abuse intersect, are complex. Substance-using male partners compound domestic abuse for women who have never been substance dependent, those who have formerly been dependent, and those currently dependent.

They mentioned that cannabis remains the most commonly used drug in Pakistan, followed by opiates (heroin or opium), stimulants (amphetamine-type stimulants and cocaine), and non-medical use of prescription drugs. Injection drug abuse is a growing concern, raising fears of an HIV epidemic in the country. A rapid increase in the use of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, has been witnessed in the region.

They called for preventative measures including early education to prevent early drug or alcohol use to reduce addiction risks. They asked for starting evidence-based programs and implementation of research-based prevention programs in families, schools, and communities. According to them, risk factors should be addressed and awareness campaigns should be spread to each corner of Pakistan to educate individuals about the harms of substance use and where to seek help.

Addressing the inaugural session, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that as a nation we used to ignore the facts and problems that’s why we are still unable to find solutions.

He mentioned that we used to attribute climate change and mental health as western propaganda, but today we are facing its effects. We need to accept the facts and make decisions accordingly, we should prioritize national interests over political benefits, and priorities should only be given to national affairs and interests.

The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi urged to adopt strict measures on an urgent basis to prevent the rapidly increasing drug use. He observed that without commitment, whatever policies are made are useless.

Another speaker, the ANF Regional Director Sindh Brigadier Umar Farooq said that parents should keep an eye on their children and make sure that they do not have friendships with people who consume, sell, or purchase drugs.

He shared that party drugs and synthetic drugs are being used by youngsters and drug peddlers are using new methods to spread their products to young girls and boys. The addictive material is being used to increase the business and attract customers without realizing that it is very harmful to health.

The Principal Investigator of the Local Challenge Fund Project and a faculty member Professor Dr Salman Shahzad shed light on the aims and objectives of the LCF Project and presented the project progress report.

He shared that individuals within the age range of 15–50 years are most susceptible, with a significant portion initiating drug use during adolescence and young adulthood. According to him, both plant-based and chemical forms of substances are being abused, like cannabis, opiates, pain relief medications, cigarettes, and others.

He mentioned that the reasons for initiating substance use are multifaceted, including socio-economic factors such as poverty, malnutrition, low levels of education, and population density, as well as psychological factors like peer pressure, mood disorders, and interpersonal stressors.

The Director KU ICP Professor Dr Uzma Ali, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Dr Shaista Tabassum also spoke on this occasion while Professor Dr Nasim Chaudhry, a consultant psychiatrist, and Dr Nargis Asad from Agha Khan University delivered the keynote addresses.