Learn six facts about narcotics on ‘world day against drug abuse’

World Day Against Drug Abuse 2021 is being observed today all over the world, including Pakistan, with the aim of curbing the use of narcotics.

The aim of celebrating World Drug Day is to highlight the harmful effects of drugs and this year, the theme of this day is ‘Share Drug Facts to Save Lives’. The focus this year is to curb the spread of misinformation on the topic and to encourage the exchange of facts related to drugs.

1. 50% of all suicides and over 50 percent of all violent crimes are caused by alcohol or drugs.
2. Over 50 percent of all traffic accidents involve alcohol or drugs.
3. 80 percent of all domestic violence reports are somehow related to alcohol or drugs.
4. An estimated 60 percent of poor work performance can be tied back to drugs or alcohol.
5. Pain killers, tranquilizers, and stimulants are the most commonly abused prescription drugs.
6. Marijuana, Cocaine, and hallucinogens are the most commonly abused illegal drugs.

Millions of people around the world are using heroin, marijuana, and other drugs. According to some psychologists, the increase in drug addiction among the younger generation is caused by the abundance of wealth, extreme poverty, or bad company of friends.

Experts say that some people use drugs because of failure in their goals, social inequality, and injustice.  The United Nations passed a resolution in 1987 to mark World Drug Day, after which several countries began celebrating International Drug Day to address the drug problem.

Drug trafficking is a growing crime in Pakistan and police and anti-narcotics forces are cracking down on it on a daily basis, yet drug use does not appear to be declining. It may be recalled that earlier Karachi police conducted operations against street criminals, drug dealers, and fugitives to curb crime in the city during which 1,140 accused were arrested and large quantities of drugs were recovered.