Drug Abuse & Mental Health of Youth

Program was started with the name of Allah Almighty, Tilawat-e-Kalam-e-Pak and Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool from the students of Department of Psychology.

Ms. Aqsa Khalil and Ms. Maryum Arifeen faculty members from Department of Psychology hosted the event. After taking permission from Worthy Vice Chancellor (Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Kausar) the program was formally started. Welcome note was given by Dr. Umara Rauf (In-charge Department of Psychology). She welcomed honorable Worthy Vice Chancellor as Chief Guest and Panel Expert, Guest of Honor and panel expert, Syeda Farha Azmi (Member Provincial Assembly, Government of the Punjab Lahore), Prof. Naila Arshad Incharge Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Guest of Honor). Syed Zulfiqar Hussain (Consultant Anti- Drugs/Narcotics) as Panel Expert, District Police Officer (DPO) Capt. Rt Mustansar Feroz as panel Expert. Dr. Naseem (Islamic Scholar/Panel Expert),  Mr. Rehan (Media Person), Deans of faculty of Natural Sciences and Business Administration, and HoDs, faculty members and students of GC Women University, Sialkot. She also welcomed the guests from New Life Rehab Center, University of Sialkot, and SOS village and also briefed the audience about the purpose of the seminar. Later video on the topic of “Drug Abuse and Mental Health of Youth” was presented by the students of 5th semester of Department of Psychology. The video was very informative and highlighted the psychological and social factors that contributed to drug abuse among youth. The video was appreciated by honorable guests, faculty members and audience.

In the next segment, panel discussion was started, and it was moderated by Dr. Razia Anjum. The first panelist was Mr. Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, consultant, Anti-Drugs/Narcotics. He focused on different types of drugs, i.e.; type A drugs and type B drugs. These drugs are used by ages 15 to 65 in Pakistan.  The second panelist was District Police Officer (DPO) Capt. Rt Mustansar Feroz. He encouraged the management on selecting such a sensitive topic. He said that drug prevalence is tragic in Pakistan as millions of people have been observed as drug addicts. He briefly discussed the different tasks that are performed to crack down drug use in educational institutions. He appreciated the video presented on the topic of “Drug Abuse and Mental Health of Youth”. He said that it is the duty of both of the parents to take timely check on their children. Equality among both the genders is necessary. He also said that we are working on all these things to crack down Narcotics. We are here 24/7 to help community. Third panelist was Member of provincial Assembly Madam Syeda Kazmi. She said in Pakistan, last analysis was done in 2012. Young girls are mostly influenced by media and fantasized the world. She gave thought provoking ideas regarding constitutions to prevent drug addiction. Mr. Rehan (media person) discussed the role of media in prevention of drug abuse. Dr. Naseem Mehmood highlighted the religious perspective of drug abuse and mental health. He threw light on importance of Islamic values on the topic of drug addiction. In the Holy Quran, alcohol is mentioned as prohibited stuff because it alters the sensation and affects the human mind directly. It is called “umul khabais.

Finally Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Kausar, honorable Chief Guest and panel expert talked about the physical and psychological dependency of drugs and highlighted the major factors how a person starts using drugs and reach towards its abuse. She highlighted how a drug affects human brain and changes in thoughts, perception and behavior. She also aware the audience about tolerance phenomenon, dependence and withdrawal symptoms of drug abuse. She also elaborated the role of family and parental support in the upbringing of their children by making them resilient and later discussed how society contributes a lot in labeling and stigmatizing a person, instead of targeting the behavior. Further she motivated the students and faculty members to inculcate positive values. She appreciated the efforts of Department of Psychology. At the end panel discussion was concluded

After that in the memory of 16th December, students payed tribute and lit up the candles in the memory of Sakoot-e Dhaka and Students of APS. Dr. Syeda Sadia prayed for martyrs of APS. Mrs. Aqsa Khalil thanked the honorable guests and panel experts. In the last, souvenirs were distributed among chief guest, guest of honor and panel experts.