Unveiling Attitudes: Pakistani Young Students' Value Orientations on Addiction And Addicts

Abstract: Unlike Western states, where the social factors influencing drug addiction are thoroughly investigated, Pakistani sociological research in the last few decades seems to have failed to adequately illuminate this complex issue. Theories and debates regarding the relationship of addiction to social variables, such as class and lifestyle, are well established globally. However, Pakistan's unique drug landscape calls for a nuanced, contextual exploration, recognizing the limitations of universal explanations and solutions, which is the main reason for undertaking the present study. A sample of 140 young students from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad who were screened and not addicted to any drug was selected for the research study. The information was collected through a structured instrument prepared in Urdu for better comprehension by the respondents. The sample was a purposive one and was drawn on a quota basis, yet it represented both the undergraduate and graduate classes. The findings of the research reveal that the frequency of the use of narcotics has a positive influence on increased hatred against addicts and there is a strong inclination among the youth to break up with such people. The present study implies that society considers habituation as a vice to be looked upon. The association of criminality with addiction presently seems to have an inadequate premise for hypothesizing. Drug abuse awareness among various cultures should be included in curricula for students by governments and universities so that risk and consequence awareness can be increased as well as avoiding substance abuse. Keywords: Youth, Addiction, Awareness, Mental, Drug.