Drug addiction in Pakistan

Most of the illegal drugs in Pakistan come from neighbouring Afghanistan.

According to UN estimates, a few million people in the country are drug users. Cannabis is the most used drug. The rate of injection drug abuse has also increased significantly in Pakistan, sparking fears of an HIV epidemic. A 2013 report on drugs by the United Nations Office On Drugs And Crime (UNODC) stated that almost 6.7 million people are taking drugs in Pakistan. The report also revealed that people from the age of 15 to 64 use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. In Pakistan, the alarming rise in drug addiction is evident, with more people succumbing to substance abuse than falling victim to terrorist attacks. The use of potent narcotics like heroin, cocaine, and other substances like hashish is widespread.

Despite the alarming increase, governmental response has been minimal. Few programs are active in the country to help drug addicts, while smuggling and availability of drugs in the country has gone almost unchecked. The Anti-Narcotics Force is the government agency responsible for tackling drug smuggling and use within Pakistan.