drug abuse

1. TOPIC : Drug Abuse and Its Relationship to Sexual Abuse of Street Children
BACKGROUND FOR THE STUDY:
THE HISTORY AND ABUSE OF DRUGSIN PAKISTAN
History
Followingare some of the extractsconcerningPakistanfromWorldDrugReport2000.
a) Illicitcultivationof opiumpoppywas5759 hectaresinthe year1994, downto 248 hectaresin
the year 1999.
b) Productionof opiumwas128 metrictons inthe year 1994, and9 metrictonsin the year1999.
It isobviousfromthe above statisticsthatcultivationhasbeengreatlyreduced.
Before 1978 heroinuse wasalmostunknowninPakistan.A majorchange occurredin drug use in
Pakistanwiththe introductionof heroininthe domesticmarket.Foraverylongtime we failedto
recognize the drugmenace asa problempertainingtooursociety.
Consumptionof illicitdrugswas1.2%Cannabisinthe year1998, and1.7% Opiate (Heroin) inthe year
1999.
It isin the recentyearsthat thismenace hasacquiredalarmingproportions.Thisepidemichasspread
fasterthan expected.There were asestimated500 drug addictsin1980 whichcrossedthe millionmark
in1990, and nowit isestimatedtobe at 4.5 million.Thisexpendeduse of drugshascreatedsocial,
economicandfamilyproblems.
Besidesthe normal consequences of heroinabuse forthe individual,the user’shealthdeclinessharply
witha simultaneousandalmostparallel decline inproductivity,the familyalsosuffersfromthe
consequences.A heroinaddictsoonerorlattertendstolose hisjoband inorderto findmoneytopay
for addiction,becomesadrug pusher,besidesindulginginsmall theftstofindmoneyforthe addiction.
Consequently,heroinaddictionleadstovarietyof physical,financial andsocial problems,whichtendto
increase bothinsize andcomplexityinthe course of time.
Drugs are generally defined as:
“Anychemical substance whichaffectsthe humanphysiologyorpsychology.The substance maybe
habit-forming,perhapsaddictive.
” While addiction is defined as:
A "continueduse despite majornegative consequencestoself orothers,combinedwithalackof
control overuse."(NewPerspectivesonDrugAbuse Prevention,New Perspectives,Larkspur,CA).

2. Categorization of Drugs
Drugs can be categorizedby two general schemes:
1. Theirmental andphysical effectsonpeople
2. Theirmode of administration.
Drug abuse can be attributed to the followingmultiple factors:
a. Rapidturn overof populationi.e.rural tourbanmigration,emigrationof male toforeignlands
resultinginfamilydisorganization,disintegrationanddissolution.
b. Utilizationof sizablelandforindustrial buildingsinthe urbanareasand consequentappearance
of the “ghettos”inthe citieswithoutanysocial,cultural andrecreational activitiesandwith sub-
humanlivingconditions.
c. Lack of educationandinformation.
d. Affluencefromill-gottenwealth.
e. Frustrationcausedbythe one or more of the above factors.
f. A materialisticwayof life whichpeople have adoptedasanalternate toan intrinsicvalue
system.
g. Economicand financial difficultiesdue tounemployment,lackof successinjobor work causing
frustrationandmental disturbances.
h. Societieswhere injustice,discrimination,imbalance andexploitationsare rampantmake living
extremelybitterandmiserable.The weakandpoor are the most affectedsegmentof the
population.A relationshipof oppressionleadstoescapisminavarietyof ways.
Drugs categorizedby theirmental and physical effects
"Uppers" or stimulants
Includesamphetamines(e.g.cocaine,"crack,"and"ice") nicotine,caffeine.These drugsactby
stimulatingthe nervoussystemsothatthe bodyfeelsexcited,revvedup.Some of the reasonswhy
people take uppersare to:
 increase alertnessandconcentration
 increase energy
 elevate mood
 suppressappetite
Some of the negative side effectsofuppers are that they:
 are veryaddictive
 make it hard tosleeporrelax
 increase paranoia(the fearthat"someone isouttoget me")
 strainthe heart and lungs,andcan cause heart attacks anddeath

3. "Downers" or depressants
Includesalcohol,barbituratesorsedatives(e.g.Quaaludes),opiates(e.g.heroin,morphine),and
tranquilizers(e.g.Valium,Librium).These drugsactbydepressingthe nervoussystemsothatthe body
slowsdown.
Some of the reasons why people take downersare to:
 loweranxietyorfears
 forgetworries
 increase sleepiness
 decrease inhibitions
Some of the negative side effectsofdownersare that they:
 are veryaddictive
 dull emotions,sothatpeople don'tfeelmuchsadness,butalsodon'tfeel muchhappiness
 confuse thinkingandslurspeech
 slowreactiontime andabilitytocontrol the body
Drugs categorizedby theirmode of administration
1. Smokedorinhaledintothe lungs.Marijuana,hashish,opium, heroin,crack,ice,nicotine
2. Snortedintothe nose.Cocaine,heroin
3. Eatenor drunkMarijuana,peyote,alcohol,caffeine,amphetamines,barbiturates,sedatives,
tranquilizers.
4. 4 Injectedunderthe skin(skinpopping) orin the vein(intravenous,IV).Cocaine,crack,opium,
heroin.
SEXUAL ABUSE IN STREET CHILDREN
StreetchildreninPakistanare notonlyan easytargetas far as childsexual abuse isconcernedbutare
alsomore likelytouse drugs.It’sa viciouscircle wherebydue tosexual abuse childrenare more likelyto
use drugs andas theybecome more dependentondrugs,theyconcede tosexual abuse tosustainthe
habit.
Accordingto REUTERS:WASHINGTON,Jan.5- “Repeatedsexual abusemakesphysical changesinthe
brain,changesthat can explainwhyabusedchildrenoftenuse illegal drugslaterinlife,researcherssay.
Theyfoundthat childrenwhowere sexuallyabusedhadchangesinthe bloodflow andafunctionof a
brainregioncalledthe CEREBELLAR VERMIS,whichisalsoknownto change whenpeople abuse drugs.”
PsychiatryprofessorScottCoffeyandcolleaguesatthe Medical Universityof SouthCarolinatested30
cocaine-dependentand45 alcohol-dependentvolunteers,all of whomalsosufferedPTSDresultingfrom
a physical andsexual attack

4. From the researchwithtraumavictims,itwasknownthat intrusive traumamemorieswere very
upsettingtopatients,andthistrauma- memoryinducednegativeemotions,increasingcravingsin
substance abuserswithPTSD.
“These findingsaddsupporttoour notionthatwe needtotreat twodisordersat the same time”.Coffey
saidin a statement.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Street children
Near the garbage cans lookingforcigarettesbuttstosmoke,foodtoeat,sittingunderthe broken
bridgestoget protectionfromthe sunor on the brinksof the gutters,inthe ruinsof oldbuildings,under
the treesof graveyardsand inthe verandasof busstops.These are the childrenof the street.
The term “streetchildren”wasintroducedin1980s to referto the childrenwholive orspenda
significantamountof time onthe streetof urbanareas to fendforthemselvesortheirfamiliesthrough
variousoccupations.Thisalsodenoteschildrenwhoare inadequatelyprotected,supervisedorcaredfor
by responsible adults.
Glauser(1990, p.140-141) definesstreetchildrenas“the childrenlivingtheirlivesonstreets.Theyspend
the nightsanywhere onthe streets,stayuplate,getlittle sleep,are exposedtoapasserby as
abandoned,homeless,tramps,thieves,orjuvenile delinquents”.
Streetchildrencanfurtherbe dividedintothe followingtwogroups:
1. Childrenof the streets
2. Childrenonthe streets“UNICEFmakesa distinctionbetweenthese twoterms.’Childrenof the
streets’consists of boysandgirlswhosee the streetas theirhome.Theymaystill have some familyties
but seekshelter,foodanda sense of familyamongtheirstreetcompanions,ortheymayhave
completelybrokentieswiththeirfamiliesandliterallylive onthe streets.Oftentheyhave been
abandonedbytheirparents,are orphans,or runawaysfromneglectfulorabusive families.
The secondgroup,’childrenonthe streets’includesthose whostillhave familyconnections.Theylive at
home,ofteninshacks,some timesevenattendschool,butare sentto the streetsbyparentsor go of
theirownaccord to supplementfamilyincome.”(ESCAPHRD,2002).
Out of 180 Children,71(39%) were onthe streetswhowenthome atnight,while 109 (61%) were
childrenof the streets.
Some of the popularperceptionsaboutstreetchildrenconcerningtheirfamilies,futuresandthe
childrenthemselvesare:

5. About Their Families
 Theyhave beenabandonedbytheirfamilies
 Theyhave run awayfrom home because of sexual exploitation
 Theyare the resultof the breakdownof the family
 Theirfamilieshave disintegratedbecauseof poverty
 Theirfathersare abusive alcoholics
 Theycome from motherheadedfamilies
About Their Futures
 Theywill notsurvive toadulthood
 Theywill growup to be criminals
 Theycannot be rehabilitated
 Theyturn intoterroristsorrevolutionaries
 Theywill become addicts
 Theywill be abusers
About The Children
 Theyare starving
 Theyare ignorant
 Theyare thieves
 Theyare the victimsof CSA
 Theyhave little choice buttobe prostitutes
 Theyare uncontrollablyviolent
 Theyhave lostall abilitytofeel emotionssuchaslove
 Theyhave no morals
 Theyare addicts
 Theyhave AIDS
All of these statementshave beenappliedtoyoungstersonthe streetsat one time or another.But they
are individuals;eachhavingtheirownhistory,problems,needsandhopes.
ChildSexual Abuse (CSA)
CSA isdefinedascontactor interactionbetweenachildandan olderor a more knowledgeable childor
adult(stranger,sibling,ora personinpositionof authority,suchasparentor caretaker) and the childis
beingusedasan objectfor the olderchildoradult’ssexual needs.These contactsorinteractionsare
carriedout by usingforce,trickery,bribes,threatsorpressures.
Involvingchildreninpornography,exhibitionism, usingsexuallanguage,inappropriatetouching,
molestation,incest,rape andsodomyare all formsof sexual abuse.

6. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To see if streetchildrenwhouse drugshave alsoexperienced sexual abuse.
2. Reasonsforusingdrugs.
3. Identificationof helprequiredforrehabilitation.
METHODOLOGY:
Samples
The sample consistedof 180 streetchildreninthe age range from6 yearsto 18 years.
The targetpopulationwasstreetchildrenfromthe Federal Capital,Rawalpindiandthe fourprovincial
capitalsof Quetta,Peshawar,Karachi andLahore.
The selectedareasatIslamabadandRawalpindi werePirWadhai,BankColony,AsgharMall Road,
NajjatMarkaz, DaldaSarai, Sultankakhoh,Cantonmentarea and Raja Bazar.
At Lahore data was collectedfromAli Park,knownasthe headquarterfordrug addicts,Data Darbar,
RailwayStation,NazCinemaandHeeraMandi.
In Peshawardatacollectionwasdone atBoard, DanishabadandHayatabad.
In Karachi data was collectedfromLiaqatabad,SadarTown,andJamshaidTown.
In Quettathe data collectionwasdone atGharibabad,FruitabadandPashonabad.
Duration Data
was collectedfrom1May 2003 to 15 June,2003. The reportwas completedby15 July,2003.
Instruments
Questionnaire andinterviews
An indigenousquestionnairewasdevelopedbythe researcherforthe presentstudy.Questions
consistedof 30 statements.Bothqualitative andquantitative statementswere includedinthe
questionnaire.
Procedure:
Afterdevelopingthe questionnaire,anoutreachpersonwasemployedtoidentifythe placeswhere
these childrencouldbe found.Firstwe experienceddifficultiesinbeingable tointeractwiththe children
as theywere notallowedbytheiraddictadultgodfathers totalktous. Theyinsistedthatthe interview
mustbe done intheirpresence.Onourrepeatedrequeststheypermittedustointerview the childrenin
private inreturnfor food,whichwe providedthem.Interventionvisitswerepaidtothe childreninthe

7. target areasand we builta rapportwiththe childreninorderto interviewthem.Whenconductingthe
interviews,the childrenwereprovidedwithfoodanddrinks.
Time constraintwasa problemwhichwasfeltduringthe processof the interview withthe children.
Time isneededtobuildtrustandgain the confidence of the childrentoillicitresponsesonsucha
sensitiveissue.Due tothisproblem,18childrendidnotrespondtoall the questionsandtwosimply
refusedtotalk.
Data Collection
Data collectionstartedsoonafterthe interventionvisits,andrapportbuilding.Fieldvisitsbeganon1st
May andendedon15th June,2003.
First we wenttosee the childreninthe morningat their‘favorite’stayingplacesbutdidnotfindmany
childrenthere.We were toldthatusuallychildrenwere awayinthe morningfortheirsmall businesses
such as begging,labor,pickpocketingandroamingaroundforgettingsomethingtoeat.The besttime
for theiravailabilitywas4p.m.to 6 p.m.whentheycame back fromtheir“duties”totake a break,or at
9 p.m.whentheyreturnedforthe night.
Data was collectedthroughapplyingasetof questions,observationandsome in-depthinterviews.
Some of the techniquestoestablishtrustandfriendshipwiththe childrenwere friendlyconversationon
general topics;showingconcernandaffectionforthemandsharingfoodwiththemduringthe
interviews.
Other findings
 It has beenfoundthat53 percent of the childrenwere earninglessthan50 rupeesaday.
 Approximately39percent of the childrenhadfamilymembersuptofive and50 percent had
familymembers6to 8.
 It has beenfoundinanalysisthatmostof the children50 per centwere the elderchildrenof
theirparentsandtherefore mayhave lefthome due tothe pressure of economicdeprivation.
CONCLUSION
The findingsof the studyshowastrong linkbetweendrugabuse andchildsexual abuse.All the children
(180) whowere interviewedweredrugaddicts,andoutof them162 childrenwere sexuallyabused.
The study showsa relationshipbetweendrugabuse andchildsexual abuse intwoways.Childrenmay
see druguse as a solutiontotheirproblems,ortheytake drugstoforgetthat theyhave beeninvolvedin
sex work.
Young people maysee druguse asa solutiontotheirproblems,ratherthenasa probleminitself.
(ESCAP,2003)

8. Eventhoughusingdrugsmay leadto seriousproblems,manychildrenandyouthstill use drugsbecause
it eitheraddssomethingtotheirlivesorhelpsthemtofeel thattheyhave solvedtheirproblems
howeverfleetingthisfeelingmightbe.
It is evidentthatchildrenonthe streetshave majorproblemswithintheirfamilies.Drugaddiction,lack
of education,andpovertyare significantfactorscommontoall the respondents.
The influence of friendsandpeersinintroducingdrugstothe respondentswasmore significantthan
the fact that there were familymembersinvolvedindrugabuse.
REFERENCES
1. UN-ESCAPHRD. Module one The Social Contextof ChildrenEspeciallywithDifficulty,United
Nations,NewYork,2002.
2. On the Street,orof the Street?Glauser,1990, p 140.
3. UN-ESCAPHRD. Module fourSubstance Abuse,UnitedNations,New York,2002.
4. WorldDrug Report.UnitedNationsOffice onDrugsandCrime UNODC 2000.
5. NewPerspectiveson DrugAbuse Prevention,New Perspectives,Larkspur,CA.