Joint Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control Mian Mohammad Zulqurnain Aamir speaking during advocacy workshop on Substance Abuse amongst Women in Pakistan Relationship with Domestic Violence. - Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: A survey by Ministry of Narcotics Control has revealed an alarming increase in use of drugs by women graduating from college and university.

The ministry selected Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other major cities for survey according to which 47 per cent of the drug addicts had graduated from college or university and 21 per cent have had primary or matriculation education.

The major drug which is under use is charas and its rate of addiction is 47 per cent.

These findings were presented by Director-General Planning and Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Narcotics Control, Mohammad Shahid at an awareness workshop on substance abuse amongst women in Pakistan on Tuesday.

He said the basic purpose of this training program was to empower women to fight drug addiction without violating religious values.

He said 43 per cent addicts get drugs from friends and 15.6 per cent from neighbours.

Majority of women use drugs for pleasure which is followed by stress-related emotional physical pain and domestic violence. Interestingly, some were forced into this habit by husbands.

Joint Secretary Narcotics Control, Zulqarnain Amir said the prevalence of drug abuse in Pakistan was due to its proximity with world`s largest producer of opium.

He said although Pakistan succeeded in seizing drugs every year and international community appreciated its achievements in this regard, a significant amount of drugs was being used in the country.

He said the Ministry of Narcotics Control was holding workshop to sensitise masses to the danger of drugs abuse.

He emphasised upon the participants not to treat women addicts as culprits. ‘They need sympathetic attitude and great care,’ he added.

He said that when a man started using drug, it only affected him but when a woman started it affected her family members because the child spent most of the time with his or her mother.

Spokesman of Ministry of Narcotics Control, Muhammad Ismail told Dawn that during survey officials of ministry interviewed 500 women of major cities.

He said now the ministry planned to do another survey to know how many women are using drugs.

At the moment the ministry is running hospitals for the man drug users and plans to soon introduce a similar facility for woman.