GROWIG TENDENCY OF DRUG ABUSE & NARCOTICS USE IN STUDENTS
Introduction
This has been generally observed that the rate of drug abuse is increasing day by day with the passage of time especially in tribal areas or FATA as well as in settled areas of KPK. The use of snuff or tobacco eating was well familiar in the illiterate society of Pathans (Pukhtoon tribe of KPK), but now this trend has developed rapidly in the educated societies of this locality. According to the field survey more than 70% of male and about 20% female in rural areas regularly use snuff. In most cases snuff serve as prime factor or the initial stage towards the misuse of drugs and narcotics etc.
This is common observation that students of school and college level are first involved in using snuff or tobacco eating or smoking cigarettes. This may be due to the influence of peer group, poverty, media or school & society environment (teacher and parent’s role). After then these students moves to the use of hashish, marijuana, alcohols (including local made tarra, vatka spirit etc which are highly dangerous for health particularly for stomach, intestine and kidneys etc). This is pleasant that a very low percentage of these students move or involve themselves in using heroin, the most dangerous addictive synthetic drug which develops criminal tendencies in human being. But a tremendous increase is being noted in this regard in the recent years and unfortunately this may be increased to high level in the coming years due to the unstable political conditions of Afghanistan. Opium serves as a basic raw material in the production of heroin.
This has been observed that there is a growing tendency in the use of drugs and narcotics in the students of elementary as well as intermediate level in the region of KPK particularly in tribal belt and the settled areas adjacent. There are several factors which may be the cause of this increase.
Significance of the Study:
The researcher is interested to bring into light the growing tendency of drug abuse among school and college students. Due to unstable political conditions in Afghanistan and KPK, opium is cultivated on a large scale during the recent year which is clear from the drop in price of opium which was about 60000 rupees or more per 1200 grams and now in May & June 2007 this is as lower as from 4000 to 5000 rupees per 1200 grams in border areas of KPK and Afghanistan. This will surely increase the production of hereon in the coming years which will lower the price and hence its use will spread more rapidly if not properly treated. Similarly several textile mils and sugar mils as well as other chemical suppliers supplies the acids especially acetic n-hydride and other chemicals with more ease which are used in the production of this fatal drug.
Objectives of the Study:
The study will attempt to achieve the following objectives.
To find out the growing tendency of drugs abuse among school and college students.
To compare drug abusing tendency between the students of settled area and tribal areas of Mohmand Agency & Khyber Agency.
To explore the causes of drug abuse in school and college students.
To analyze the contents of school and college curriculum in regard of drug abuse and its effect on human health.
To enumerate the common types of drugs & narcotics used by school and college students.
To suggest some remedial recommendation and suggestion for handling the problem under study.
This has been observed that there is a dramatic decrease in the use of drugs in the area where Taliban are in full control. Due to the fear of Taliban no one have the courage to cultivate produce, synthesis, smuggle or sell the prohibited material in Islam in most part of the tribal areas. But unfortunately there is some evidence or information that some of Taliban commanders are involved in drug trafficking. Similarly some of the Taliban received some amount from the factories producing drugs, and allow them to work. But beside all these this is a fact that when Taliban get control of the area all illegal activities decrease very rapidly.
Hypothesis:
Easy availability of drugs and narcotics in the area under study.
Gape between parents and their children.
Presence of local teacher in schools.
Media role i.e. films, dramas and magazine etc.
Harsh attitude of parents and teachers with children.
Curriculum has no guidance about the abuse of drugs and its effect on human body (health).
Social environment of the locality may encourage drug abuse.
Peer group may play vital role.
Poverty may also be a prime factor.
Elder are involved i.e. they use drugs and narcotics.
Poor control of governmental institutions i.e. poor law and order situation in the area concerned.
The researcher wants to study the problem in detail especially focusing on the common routs i.e. supply, production, social and physiological affect of drugs use. The enquiry that will show, how students fell in becoming addict to drugs will also be broadly focused.
Method for Data Collection;
The study will use snowball method for inquiry. Questionnaire as well as unframed but carefully focused & plan interview will be used as main tool for collecting data. This should be kept in mind that the aim of researcher is to ask all the relevant question from the concerned persons but if the condition not allow, question as more as possible should be asked.
Similarly if the circumstance not allows the researcher then he may change the wording of the questions but with great care that the central idea remains the same.
Obstacles;
This was really a problem for the researcher to get familiar with the network of drug smugglers. One of the old student’s father informed the researcher to search acetic n-hydride from somewhere and then he will inform the smugglers about that. This was again a problem to search the totally prohibited chemical. But the researcher made it possible with the efforts of some friends. The researcher supplied the required chemical in sample form to different smuggler and Factory owner of heroin. In this way the researcher got familiar to the network.
Once again this was a problem for researcher to interview the drug addicted students, parents and teachers as the researcher himself do not use any sort of drug i.e. snuff or cigarette etc. but one of the first cousin and student of third year is badly involved in about all type of drug abuse. So due to his relation the researcher followed the snowball method. Similarly the visit of drug rehabilitation centers also becomes fruitful in finding the targeted persons.
This was very strange that mostly chemical & drugs are transported by the help of concerned department persons i.e. anti-narcotic police and even some person of defense were also found involved in this.
Population:
Population of the study consists of all the students of Pakistan especially of KPK studying in school and colleges.
Sample:
The sample of the study will include villages of Khyber and Mohmand Agencies in tribal areas and districts Peshawar and Charsadda in settled area. At least 10 schools in each Agency and district will be purposely selected. So the total number of schools will be 40. in each school, 10 – 15 students will be selected through snowball method. The total sample will be 400 students. Besides school and college students data will also be collected from teachers, parents, smuggler, producers, cultivators, transporters & sellers. At least 5 – 10 persons in each category will be approached.
Data Collection Procedure;
The researcher wants to conduct interview or use questionnaire or both from the students, parent and teacher of addicted students as much as possible. Similarly the smuggler i.e. producers, cultivators, transporters & seller will also be concerned to know their psyche and character. Addicted teacher of each level well also be considered. This is possible for the researcher to some extent due to living in that particular locality.
The researcher will also frequently visit the rehabilitation centers and centre jail of Peshawar to get data of addicted students.
Organization of The Study
This study will comprise of five chapters. Chapter one will consist of brief introduction of the study covering the objectives, hypothesis and organization of the study.
In chapter two, review of the extensive literature showing studies on the issues relevant to drug abuse in students will be given.
Third chapter will give a detailed description of the sources of data, population, sampling and tabulation of data.
Chapter four will be based on tabulation, results derivation and comprehensive discussion on drug abuse in students.
Chapter Five will consists of findings, conclusions of the whole study and final suggestions for improvement and further research