KARACHI, Feb 24: Maj-Gen Zafar Abbas, D-G Anti-Narcotics Force has said that drug problem with its multiple aspects is a major threat to society and is steadily trapping almost all social strata.

“The use of heroin, the most lethal narcotics drug, has emerged as a critical problem with serious social, economic, health and psychological repercussions upon the individual and the society”.

“To check the menace, the government is mindful to the fact that law-enforcement activities alone cannot counter-act the effect of drugs on society and a viable and counter-drug strategy needs to focus on drugs demand reduction as a parallel strategy”.

He was speaking at a two day-workshop on “drug dependence management skills”, sponsored by the Narcotics Affairs Section of US Embassy and organized by the Anti-Narcotics Force on Monday.

The workshop was attended by Commander ANF, Sindh, Brig Salim Akhund, diplomats, A large number of psychiatrists and representatives of different NGOs besides social welfare officers.

Referring to national assessment study of drug abuse-2000 by the ANF, carried with the financial and technical assistance of UNDCP, Maj-Gen Zafar Abbas said it transpired that there are some 0.5 million chronic heroin abusers in the country which includes injectors.

Discussing the impact of drug abuse in Pakistan, he said that over the past 15 years it has caused colossal loss to the nation.—PPI