UNODC Implements Drug Demand Reduction Campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Narcotics Control, is implementing a drug prevention campaign in the six cities of Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Kohat, Charsada and Abbottabad in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The campaign is based on the results of the "Drug use in Pakistan 2013, Technical Summary Report" which was completed earlier this year.  According to the technical summary report, the prevalence of drug use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is higher than in other provinces in the country. Before implementing the campaign, UNODC carried out a pre-intervention survey to obtain baseline of the knowledge of the general public, youth, parents, teachers, women and religious leaders in six cities. 

Drug Prevention and Awareness Raising Activities

In order to raise awareness on the harmful effects of drug abuse and how to seek help and information, a number of activities have been carried out by UNODC. Group discussions and information sessions on drug abuse with parents, teachers, male and female students, general public and religious scholars in different cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been organised.During the campaign,UNODC arranged information events at schools as well as different sporting activities for youth and students. Cricket and badminton teams for boys and girls are provided with cricket uniforms and a cricket kits with drug prevention messages. 

In a drug prevention session attended by more than 250 students at Haripur Government Centennial Boys High School No. 1, students and teachers delivered speeches on drug abuse prevention and the harms associated with drug use. The Principal of the school stressed in his speech the negative impact of drug use on academic performance, as well as the religious perspective on drug use. 

The school was also visited by Mr. Mohammad Shahid, the Director General for the Ministry of Narcotics Control, who gave the students a presentation on the drug use situation in the country. He  focused on the vital role of families in drug abuse prevention and the important role the students can play in preventing drug abuse in their societies. Dr. Nadeem ur Rehman from UNODC led an interactive session with the students where they were able to discuss why drugs are used, the harmful effects of drugs, and on adopting healthy lifestyles. Material promoting drug prevention was distributed to the students and to the sch

ool's management.

Establishment of Telephone Information Hotline and SMS campaigning

One of the most important elements of the KPK drug prevention campaigns has been the establishment of a telephone hotline at the Institute of Psychiatry. The hotline was set up to provide the public with information on drug abuse and drug treatment. The counsellors staffing the hotline are trained psychologists, and answer questions on issues related to drug abuse and drug prevention. In addition, an SMS campaign is currently underway. An SMS with a short drug prevention message and the telephone hotline line number will be sent to mobile phone users in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

The number for the drug prevention hotline is 0800-222-55.