Pakistan home to five million drug addicts.

(From Business Recorder)

Byline: MUHAMMAD SALEEM

There are estimated 5 million drug addicts in Pakistan, 97-percent of which are men and 3-percent women and each addict spends Rs 100-150 on drugs daily from which drug sellers generate daily revenue of million of rupees. Negative effects vary depending on the type of drug consumed, the doses taken, and the frequency of use. In some cases, drug abuse can cause serious depression, panic, irregular heartbeat, respiratory problems, and even sudden death.

Furthermore, while under the influence of drugs, users may wrongly decide to have unprotected sex or share needles, thus increasing their chances of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases.

These views were expressed by psychiatric experts, while talking to Business Recorder with reference to 'International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking' to be …