Educated women going for drugs in Pakistan

Around 47 percent of women drug addicts in Pakistan are well educated and have had either college or university education, a top official has said.

Around 21 percent of the women drug addicts had education either till primary level or till matriculation, Muhammad Shahid, director general of the planning and monitoring unit of the ministry of narcotics control, was quoted as saying by the Daily Times.

The ministry arranged a workshop on substance abuse amongst women. The purpose was to help women fight drug addiction successfully without violating religious values.

Shahid said the drug used by the majority of women was charas, a form of cannabis hand-made in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. It is made from the resin of the cannabis plant.

He said 43 percent of the women addicts got drugs from their friends and over 15 percent from neighbours.

He said most of the women used drugs for pleasure. It was, however, followed by emotional and physical pain and domestic violence.

Narcotics Control joint secretary Zulqarnain Amir said Pakistan was a victim of drugs due to its proximity with the world's largest producer of drugs -- Afghanistan.