PESHAWAR, May 18: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday stressed the need to establish a narcotics-free society. The seminar was organized by the science society of the University of Peshawar after an anti-narcotics walk and posters competition.

The speakers urged the students to concentrate on their studies and constructive activities instead of seeking escape from their problems by taking drugs. The university's provost, Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, was the chief guest.

The walk started from the students' teachers' centre and ended at the Aga Khan auditorium, where the posters competition was held. Students from the university and its affiliated colleges participated in the event.

Dr Alay Ahmed of the psychology department, speaking on the effects of drugs usage, said isolation and low social interaction lead to narcotics addiction. He said: "Powerful stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamine upsets your chemical balance by taking control of the brain pleasure centre."

He said caffeine and tobacco were mild stimulants. Stronger stimulants included cocaine, amphetamine and methaemphetamine, which were extremely dangerous and highly addictive, he said.

He said stimulants could cause increased heart and respiratory rates, hypertension, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, blurred vision, dizziness and anxiety. Those might lead to suicidal tendencies, apathy, weakness, itching, vomiting, nightmares and headache, he said.

They slowed down the nervous system, that could lead to death, he warned. Prof Abbaseen Yousafzai, the teacher in charge of the students' societies, distributed shields among the participants of the posters competition.

Nuzhat Perveen, Rizwana and Mumraiz Khan got the top three positions in the competition among the university students. Aneela Azma of the College of Home Economics was declared first,Javeria Mufti, second, and Mariam Sana Quraish, third, among college students.