Educationist sounds alarm on drug epidemic impacting millions of youth

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2026) Educationist on Sunday highlighted a sharp rise in drug addiction among youth, attributing it to the growing gap between parents and their children, a divide that is quietly spreading through educational institutions and fueling a crisis affecting around 7.6 million people nationwide, and calls for increased awareness and urgent action from families and communities.

Talking to ptv news, leading educationist Col (R) Prof. Malik Ayub Awan highlighted Pakistan's severe drug addiction crisis, warning that while public and private partnerships were crucial, the real frontline began at home.

He called for a massive shift in parental awareness to bridge the generational disconnect, insisting that parents must start engaging with their Gen Z children right now, in parallel with state-level interventions.

He noted that millions of people across the country continued to grapple with the grip of addiction, which remained a pressing social and health issue.

Prof. Awan acknowledged that the government has taken significant steps to address the crisis, including implementing rehabilitation programs and conducting crackdowns on drug trafficking networks. These efforts have helped to curb the availability of illicit substances and provide support to those seeking recovery.

However, he emphasized that despite these measures, much more needs to be done to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

Prof. Awan pointed out that prevention through education and stronger family involvement was crucial to reducing the number of new addicts and helping the youth resist peer pressure.

He called on communities, parents, and educational institutions to work together closely with the government to build a more informed and vigilant society capable of tackling this epidemic before it grows further out of control.

He further expressed regret over the widening communication and trust gap between parents and today’s generation of youth, known as Gen Z. Prof. Awan pointed out that this disconnect contributed significantly to the vulnerability of young people, making them more susceptible to drug addiction.

He highlighted alarming cases of university students falling into substance abuse, underscoring the need for immediate intervention within educational institutions.

According to Prof. Awan, raising treatment awareness was essential to encourage addicts to seek help without fear of stigma. He stressed the importance of providing accessible and effective rehabilitation services, coupled with community support to ensure a successful recovery journey for those affected.

He urged parents to engage more openly with their children, fostering trust and understanding to bridge the gap that often drives youth towards harmful behaviors.

With combining family involvement with government initiatives and educational programs, Prof. Awan believed that Pakistan could make significant progress in combating the drug addiction crisis.