KARACHI, Dec 21: The number of drug addicts in the country has touched four millionth mark and the victims are mostly youngsters. This was disclosed at a seminar on ‘Youth awareness on drug abuse’ held at the auditorium at Arts faculty, University of Karachi on Thursday.

The event was jointly organised by the KU Department of Sociology, United Nations Association of Pakistan (UNAP) and Anti-narcotics Force (Sindh) with pro-vice-chancellor Dr Akhlaq Ahmad in the chair.

Speaking on the occasion, Brigadier Faizul Karim Burki said that the menace of drug abuse had strengthened its roots in our country since 70s mainly due to smuggling from the across the border especially from Afghanistan.

He said the Anti-narcotics Force (ANF) and other law enforcement agencies had been playing vital role to curb the menace by nabbing drug pushers, but students could also play an effective role in this regard.

Brigadier Burki said that students were more vulnerable to drug abuse and it was duty of the parents, teachers and other elders to educate them as to how the challenge could be dealt with.

Dr Akhlaq Ahmad in his brief speech said that people mostly from poor countries were found involved in drug smuggling, which had further complicated problems of their countries.

He said that some were using drugs for medicinal purposes and mental relaxation, which could lead them to a permanent addiction if not avoided.

Dr Fateh Mohammad highlighted the negative impacts of drugs and asked students to play their role in eradication of the menace. Dr Rana Saba in her detailed presentation gave examples of use of different kind of drugs, methods, and negative impacts on human body.

She said that parents could play main roles to protect the youth from drugs and added that parents ought to keep a check on activities of their kids very seriously.

Dr Akbar Haider Somoro, who is also country chairman of health affairs of the UNAP, in his speech revealed scores of code words, being used by drug traffickers and addicts for fulfilment of their objectives which, he said had been derived from various websites.