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Drug Abuse Prevention with Young People in Peshawar - Pakistan

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DOST Welfare Foundation of Pakistan initiated a project designed to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts as well as to work with local groups to prevent youth from becoming addicted to drugs. The focus of the programme is holistic as it attempts to deal with the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of the individual and to focus on the social issues that facilitate drug addiction.
Communication Strategies

Treatment and rehabilitative services for drug abusers including detox centres, counseling, street outreach and drop-in centres. Preventative programmes for youth and children in schools and youth groups that include employment training and health education. Programmes within the juvenile justice system that focus on "diversion" rather than prison.
Development Issues

Youth, Health
Key Points

Pakistan has identified a high rate of drug addiction among young people, particularly in the Peshawar region that borders Afganistan. 53% of heroin addicts start experimenting with drugs at ages 15 to 25. The DOST Welfare Foundation concluded that the existing treatment programs were largely ineffective because they did not address the socio-cultural realities that facilitated the spread of drug addiction nor did they holistically treat the individual drug addict. The objective of the Drug Abuse Prevention Project is to contend with both of these issues.
Partners



German Technical Development Cooperation, local organizations

Sources

website.