No survey conducted on drug addicts since 2012: Ministry of Narcotics

The Ministry of Narcotics Control admitted its inability to provide figures on the number of drug-addicted individuals in Pakistan to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior Affairs, acknowledging that no survey had been conducted in the past 12 years.

This was revealed in a meeting of the Senate standing committee chaired by Faisal Saleem. 

The officials in the anti-narcotics ministry said that the last survey was conducted in 2013, which found that over 6,700,000 Pakistanis aged above15 years were addicted to drugs, with over 4 million being addicted to drugs like cannabis, heroin, and prescription medications.

They added that no follow-up survey was conducted until 2024, though the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) is expected to conduct the next survey in 2025.

However, according to some statistics shared by health experts and law enforcement officials, 10.5 million Pakistanis are struggling with drug addiction.

The investigation, which spanned over 3,000 educational institutions and 2,000 offices, exposed the vulnerability of young people to drug abuse. 

Shockingly, 3 million students are currently battling addiction, as per the report. 

According to experts, poverty, unemployment, psychological crisis, and mental disorders like depression and anxiety are key factors driving individuals toward substance abuse.

In a related context, in November 2024, Saudi Arabia executed more than 100 foreigners, including 21 Pakistanis, over drug-related offenses.