Like other parts of the globe, the 'International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking' was observed here on Wednesday with a resolve to continue efforts aimed at raising awareness about the issue. To mark the day, different events were held in which speakers highlighted problems posed to the country due to menace of drugs. Currently, the people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics. The Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) and YOCFAN inked MoU to declare the University of Management and Technology (UMT) as smoke and drug free campus.

Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, Consultant Anti Drug/Narcotics Campaign, and Syed Ahmed Shah, Director Office of Participation Affairs UMT, signed the MoU for two more years.

Syed Zulfiqar said that new trend of drug addiction; ice crystal, coca, heroin and crack are on the rise in young generation, especially in upper class. He said by involving international organizations, we can minimize the extensive drugs and its worst form of addiction. The people are dependent on different forms of substance in Pakistan including alcohol, naswar, gutka etc.

According to him, smoke and drug free campus program and campaign is not an easy task. Many educationalists and heads of institutions are facing different kind of drug-related issues in own premises. These instructors do not allow anybody to highlight these issues but they prefer to manage the situation bringing their own technical skills, he added. Syed Zulfiqar said the use of injections by the addicts had witnessed an alarming increase and there was a need to have a check on this menace by all departments like health and city governments.

Syed Ahmed Shah said that UMT will follow all SOPs and create awareness inside the university through different approaches.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019