Drug abuse in Pakistan - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Introduction
Develop<strong>in</strong>g effective response to the problem of drug <strong>abuse</strong> requires a sound understand<strong>in</strong>g
of the nature of the problem. This fundamental conclusion is enshr<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the Declaration of
the Guid<strong>in</strong>g Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of <strong>Drug</strong> Demand Reduction, which accompanied the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>
General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS). At this historically important meet<strong>in</strong>g it was also
acknowledged that success <strong>in</strong> the fight aga<strong>in</strong>st drug <strong>abuse</strong> requires a balanced approach that
comb<strong>in</strong>es both supply and demand reduction measures. Today it is recognized that drug problems
have the potential to affect all countries and therefore national governments have a correspond<strong>in</strong>g
responsibility to develop sound responses. This assessment study is <strong>in</strong>tended to
help assemble the knowledge base necessary for <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g the development and target<strong>in</strong>g of
drug demand reduction measures <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong>.
The need for this enhanced understat<strong>in</strong>g was recognized by the government of <strong>Pakistan</strong> who
through the offices of the <strong>Pakistan</strong> Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) took a lead role <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>stigat<strong>in</strong>g
the study and <strong>in</strong> its implementation. Part of UNDCP’s role is to work <strong>in</strong> partnership with natio
nal governments to help facilitate the development of responses to drug <strong>abuse</strong> problems. This
work is guided by the mandates given to UNDCP by the <strong>in</strong>ternational community and by declarations
agreed by member States com<strong>in</strong>g together at the Commission on Narcotic <strong>Drug</strong>s. It
is therefore particularly appropriate for UNDCP to work <strong>in</strong> partnership with the government of
<strong>Pakistan</strong> on this exercise that demonstrates <strong>Pakistan</strong>’s commitment to both the challenge and
the vision expressed at UNGASS.
This study takes place aga<strong>in</strong>st a background of considerable political and public concerns about
the problems that drug <strong>abuse</strong> are caus<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong>. The widespread recognition of the
issue of drug <strong>abuse</strong> <strong>in</strong> the country is, by <strong>in</strong>ternational standards, a relatively recent phenomenon.
For example, hero<strong>in</strong> <strong>abuse</strong> was largely unknown <strong>in</strong> the 1970s but became recognized as
a major social problem dur<strong>in</strong>g the early and mid 1980s. Similarly, until quite recently there
was no history of <strong>in</strong>ject<strong>in</strong>g drug use <strong>in</strong> the country. Today it is accepted by all that <strong>Pakistan</strong>
has a serious drug problem to address. However, the <strong>in</strong>formation available to understand, and
therefore to respond to the problem is poor. A number of national assessments have been
undertaken <strong>in</strong> the past that provided valuable <strong>in</strong>sights. In addition, a number of more
localized research projects have also been conducted. Despite this no good picture exists of
current patterns and trends <strong>in</strong> drug <strong>abuse</strong> <strong>in</strong> the country. The last national assessment dates
from 1993. We know today that drug <strong>abuse</strong> problems have the ability to develop and change
with alarm<strong>in</strong>g speed. There is therefore a clear need for a contemporary understand<strong>in</strong>g of the
current drug <strong>abuse</strong> problem <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong>.
No one-research exercise can answer all questions about the nature, scale and dynamics <strong>in</strong>
patterns of drug <strong>abuse</strong> <strong>in</strong> any country. Nonetheless, the objectives of this study were considerable.
Understand<strong>in</strong>g the nature of drug problems is a complex task and the resources available
are always limited. It is also important that the methods used are sound if the result<strong>in</strong>g
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