PESHAWAR: Drugs, especially ice (methamphetamine), have become a serious threat to society, with tens of thousands of people addicted to various narcotics due to their easy availability.
Hundreds of people are arrested every month for allegedly manufacturing, smuggling and selling drugs. More forces have been empowered in recent years to act against these mafias. However, the situation remains alarming, with an increasing number of people getting addicted to meth, heroin, liquor and other substances.
Several kinds of drugs, including cocaine, are being consumed at innumerable parties almost daily.Ice, or meth, is posing a more serious threat to society, with its use rising sharply over the past decade.
Addicts of ice are often more violent, and many are involved in crimes, including murders and attempted murders.They remain in a state of mind in which they can harm or even shoot anyone with little or no provocation.
Officials said the number of addicts and their involvement in violent crimes has increased every year since 2018.Although actions have been taken against drug mafias, the number of people consuming drugs continues to rise, not only in KP but also in major cities across the country.
Police have written to the government on several occasions, calling for stricter laws to ensure that those arrested receive due punishment.
Some officials have suggested developing a system to monitor the transportation of raw materials used in the manufacturing of ice.This synthetic drug can be manufactured anywhere using certain materials also used in the production of medicines.
It is more harmful to the human body and to society, as addicts can become extremely violent.According to Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed Ahmad, operations against ice and other narcotics are underway, and over 6,000 people have been arrested in the last seven months in Peshawar alone.
According to data from the capital city police, 6,581 cases have been registered against drug dealers in the past seven months, and over 6,605 suspects have been arrested.Police have recovered 751 kilograms of ice, 81 kilograms of heroin, 1,637 kilograms of hashish, 18 kilograms of opium, and 2,184 bottles of liquor from the accused.
As many as 2,623 suspects have been arrested since January 1, with recoveries including 262 kilograms of ice, 45 kilograms of heroin, 641 kilograms of hashish and 16 kilograms of opium.Alongside aggressive operations, efforts are needed to raise public awareness about drug abuse by involving educational institutions, prayer leaders, elders, local government representatives and community groups.
In addition to the police, the Excise and Narcotics Control Department and other relevant departments have been tasked with eliminating the drug menace. However, authorities have failed to disrupt the supply chains feeding drugs into society.
Reports indicate that thousands of individuals , including a significant number of women and students from educational institutions and hostels, have fallen into addiction to substances such as ice, heroin and hashish, which remain easily accessible in many areas.
Hashish, widely regarded as a gateway drug, is being consumed openly in several localities. The rising use of ice, however, is particularly alarming, as it can severely damage a person within a short period and poses a far greater threat to society.
