DRUGS

STATISTICS AND
PROBABILITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:....................................................................................................................5
PROPOSITIONS:....................................................................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................6
METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................................8
TALLY MARKS AND CHARTS...............................................................................................................9
HYPOTHESIS..........................................................................................................................................25
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................27

1
 ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to find out the illicit effects of drugs on the youth
these days and what precautionary ways can be used to stop children from
consuming these. Reviews the literature and states that appropriate research
describing initial use of illicit drugs suggests that disruption of normal child-parent
relationships, lack of involvement in organized groups, and few effective peer
relationships may have been predisposing factors in some individuals initiating use
of illicit drugs. Research also suggests that socialization to nontraditional norms,
parental modeling of licit and illicit drug use, involvement with drug-using peers,
and positive experiences with drugs may have been important factors in initial use
for other individuals. It is concluded that both theory and research need a clear
distinction between the several paths leading to initial drug abuse, particularly
since separate statistical analyses may be necessary for people in each path. A
sample of 50 young adults were taken, from the age group of 18 years to 25 years
studying in different universities of Karachi. They were given an awareness-
creating questionnaire to understand the importance of this usage.

2
INTRODUCTION

The repetitive deaths of drug users have became nowadays, an

everyday phenomenon that most us has got used it. The numbers of the victim
Prospectively, there was an alarming increase in drug abuse at different area. .
Many students take cocaine, heroine, marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs; all these
illegal substances provoke undeniably addiction. The reasons that led to that
accrual are various. Firstly, the alienated interpersonal relationships has decreased
the communication between people. Secondly, the faulty function of the family;
the chasm between them, turns young people to other types of ‘families’ of
the demi world. Even overprotection some times makes them ask for a gateway.
Thirdly, the imitation of musicians and actors can lead many young people to
drugs, as they are trying to look alike them. . Nevertheless, as we now, today all
this staff about being ‘cool’, affects mostly young people and it is more obvious in
places where there are many gathered, like in college. Moreover, another reason
can be the fact of the provocative easiness to find drugs in college, whenever and
whatever drug you want. Finally, a disappointment from a relationship or school,
for example a fail in the finals, can be a good reason for those young people to turn
in to drugs. For this bad situation that exists in our college, counselors and
teachers  have to undertake control. They have to inform and consult students
about the danger of taking drugs. Also, college besides of education has to try
to nourish a positive personality. This will succeed with the existence
of corporation between students and teachers, the reinforcement of activity leading,
the growth of positive thinking and ensurance of freely expression of students.
Teachers and counselors have to penetrate into young people’s problems and try to
help them, by showing to them that they care and they are willing to help them. In
addition, an introduction of a club with the corporation of teachers and students
with an ulterior target to talk about problems that are annoying them organizing
exhibitions that will inform substantially about dangers of drug abuse, visiting
centers of detoxification to see with their own eyes the truth about drugs. Hence,
young people constitute the warranty for a better future. This is a controversial
issue where different people have different opinions. It varies from individual to
individual, from society to a way of life, and from legal to illegal. . Drugs become
abused whether they are recreational, narcotics or alcohol. When we talk about the
misuse of substances and how they are used for the wrong reason without
regulations that put the person at risk without taking that into account. It is like
3
gambling when an individual use recreational drugs or abuse narcotics. If these
ventures were taken into account the amount of damage to themselves, I am sure
they would put a limit to it. The issue of narcotics has been around since 5000
B.C. 
It has been identified that there are some ethics for families, schools, and the
community to use in establishing prevention programs. These programs are
designed to enhance a protective risk factor and reduce some of the risks for abuse.
These factors are associated to reduce the potential of drug use. Drugs are
substances that influence the state of mind, and that's why they are used. People
who use them want to experience the effects of drugs. Some medicines also
influence the mental states.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
 Why do young adults engage in these kinds of illicit dealings?
 What is the source and who’s financially supporting these addicts?
 How can parents play an important role in stopping drug usage?
 On a larger scale, what can be done to save the community?

PROPOSITIONS:
1. Many young adults start consuming drugs if they’re going through a
dilemma in their life.
2. Overdosing of drugs can be dealt if there is a guilt conscience and parental
supervision.
3. There are many chances of relapse in patients so the detoxifying isn’t
enough for the patients they must be kept in under full supervision at all
times.

4
LITERATURE REVIEW

Drug abuse is generally defined as the use of a drug with such frequency that the
user has physical or mental harm or it impairs social abilities. Drugs are used as
painkillers to avert physical and/or emotional pain by providing the user with a
temporary escape from life’s realities. Even though, they cause different, more
serious problems that harm self and the society and family. Drugs make you feel
on top of the world. Grownup. In with the crowd. Cool. Hung over. Special.
Underperforming. Confident. Like a rebel. In short, it does different things for
different people. But seen from a teen's perspective, drugs can appear to have more
advantages than disadvantages. Otherwise kids wouldn't be doing drugs.
"Despite what most people think, most kids don't start off taking drugs, because
they want to get high – they are motivated by a variety of psychological factors
rather than physical ones. They want to have fun, have friends and have the status
of being a risk-taker. The danger is part of the appeal," says Grant Jardine, director
of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre.
When children age into adulthood they often get involved in drug abuse and other
substances that hinders their development (Children’s Defense Fund 1991). It is
usually during adolescence that teenagers assign importance to social conformity.
They find gratification in indulging in activities that provide recreational benefits
that help to cope with stress or result in mood enhancement.
According to the findings by Kaya and Saçkes’s (2004), self esteem also plays also
an influential role especially during adolescence as it a period of time when the
feelings of belonging and social acceptance trigger where they usually feel
alienated within their family surroundings and are attracted towards the peer circle
in making decisions, and developing morals and values. However, this period is a
crucial stage when the most essential decisions have to be accounted for and only
the peer relationship has an influential effect on their self esteem. Where
researchers have found that adolescents with low self-esteem are more likely to be
victims to drug abuse. It causes them to respond towards negativity such as
substance use, delinquency, specific bullying behaviors and poor academic
outcomes.
Moreover, family dynamics plays a crucial role in shaping personality and
behavior of adolescents. Therefore children with appropriate parental monitoring,

5
healthy parent-child communication and connectedness were found to have
predicted less criminal behaviors and significantly less involvement in substance
abuse. There are higher chances of children to engage in drugs and substance abuse
if parents are found to have permissive attitudes, as it exerts pressure on the child
where he drifts apart from the family thereby undergoing through the process of
facing loss of attachment and belonging with parents.
As among teens, alcohol is known to be the most commonly abused drug. It has
been found according to a study that the children of alcoholics are four times more
likely to develop problems with alcohol.
It has been researched that religion and spirituality serve as a protective factor for
both adolescence and adults as it is negatively correlated with substance abuse.
Religion provides a basis to structure social control along with guidelines that
discourage substance abuse. It also helps addicts to recover as religion serves as
basis where strong religious faith can be developed by connecting with God, in
terms of forgiveness, honesty and respect that restores feelings of acceptance and
instills hope for a better future.

6
METHODOLOGY
Sample

The sample size of 50 adolescents was selected from different universities in

Karachi. The age group of the participants ranged from 18 to 25 years. Random
sampling technique was used and students this age group in order to ensure
representativeness of the sample.
Research Design

In this study, a correlational survey design was used to explore to what extent drug
use is common in adolescents along with their knowledge about different types of
drugs. It further seeks to understand risk factors related to using different drugs in
relation to gender. Questionnaires were designed to conduct firsthand information
because of its convenience and easy accessibility.
Procedure

A questionnaire was designed, which accounted for personal details and then it
comprised of 18 questions and the participants were instructed to provide with
honest answers.
The participants were given enough time to fill their questionnaire and according
to the confidentiality the results were not exposed. After the all the questionnaires
had been filled, the results were then analyzed in detail.

7
TALLY MARKS AND CHARTS

Q1. What type of family are you from?

TALLY MARKS ∑f
Nuclear |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| | 26
Joint |||| |||| |||| | 16
Single parent |||| || 7
Bachelor | 1

30

25

20

15

10

0
Nuclear Joint Single parent Bachelor

Family

8
Q2. Do you know what effects the following drugs have on your body?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| |||| 46 |||| 4
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| |
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| |||| 28 |||| |||| |||| |||| 22
|||| ||| ||
Speed Crystal Meth |||| |||| |||| |||| 24 |||| |||| |||| |||| 26
|||| |||| |
Cocaine |||| |||| |||| |||| 32 |||| |||| |||| ||| 18
|||| |||| ||
Heroin |||| |||| |||| |||| 33 |||| |||| |||| || 17
|||| |||| |||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| |||| 36 |||| |||| |||| 14
|||| |||| |||| |

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No

9
Q3. Where do you find out about the effects of?
Source Drugs ∑f Alcohol ∑f
Friends |||| |||| |||| |||| 47 |||| |||| |||| |||| 32
|||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ||
|||| ||
School |||| |||| |||| |||| 32 |||| |||| |||| |||| 22
|||| |||| || ||
Parents/Relatives |||| |||| |||| |||| 27 |||| |||| |||| |||| 22
|||| || ||
Articles/Books |||| |||| |||| |||| 29 |||| |||| |||| |||| 23
|||| |||| |||
Internet |||| |||| |||| |||| 45 |||| |||| |||| |||| 34
|||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ||||
||||
Movies/TV |||| |||| |||| |||| 36 |||| |||| |||| |||| 21
|||| |||| |||| | |
Professionals/Counselors |||| |||| |||| |||| 35 |||| |||| |||| |||| 37
|||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ||

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Friends School Parents/Relatives Articles Internet Professionals

Drugs Alcohol

10
Q5. Have you ever seen the following in the last 30 days?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| |||| 47 ||| 3
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| 14 |||| |||| |||| |||| 36
|||| |||| |||| |
Speed Crystal Meth ||| 3 |||| |||| |||| |||| 47
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||
Cocaine ||| 4 |||| |||| |||| |||| 46
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| |
Heroin |||| |||| 10 |||| |||| |||| |||| 40
|||| |||| |||| ||||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| |||| 31 |||| |||| |||| |||| 19
|||| |||| |

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No

11
Q6. Have your closest friends used the following in the last 30 days?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f NOT SURE ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| 43 |||| 4 ||| 3
|||| |||| ||||
|||| |||| |||
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| 17 |||| |||| |||| 14 |||| |||| |||| 19
|| ||||
Speed Crystal ||| 3 |||| |||| |||| 29 |||| |||| |||| 18
Meth |||| |||| |||| |||
Cocaine ||| 3 |||| |||| |||| 31 |||| |||| |||| 16
|||| |||| |||| |
|
Heroin |||| 4 |||| |||| |||| 32 |||| |||| |||| 14
|||| |||| ||||
||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| 21 |||| |||| || 12 |||| |||| |||| 17
|||| | ||

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No Not Sure

12
Q7. Have you used the following in the last 30 days?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| |||| 28 |||| |||| |||| |||| 22
|||| ||| ||
Marijuana |||| || 7 |||| |||| |||| |||| 43
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||
Speed Crystal Meth 0 |||| |||| |||| |||| 50
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||||
Cocaine | 1 |||| |||| |||| |||| 49
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||||
Heroin 0 |||| |||| |||| |||| 50
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||||
Alcohol |||| ||| 8 |||| |||| |||| |||| 42
|||| |||| |||| ||||
||

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No

13
Q9. Are the following easy to get?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| |||| 50 0
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||||
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| |||| 26 |||| |||| |||| |||| 24
|||| | ||||
Speed Crystal Meth ||| 3 |||| |||| |||| |||| 47
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||
Cocaine |||| | 6 |||| |||| |||| |||| 49
|||| |||| |||| ||||
|||| ||||
Heroin |||| ||| 8 |||| |||| |||| |||| 44
|||| |||| |||| ||||
||||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| |||| 34 |||| |||| |||| | 16
|||| |||| ||||

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No

14
Q10. Do you think there is a “PROBLEM” with drug/alcohol use by youth in our
community?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f NOT SURE ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| 30 |||| |||| |||| 16 |||| 4
|||| |||| |||| |
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| 27 |||| |||| |||| 16 |||| || 7
|||| |||| || |
Speed Crystal |||| |||| |||| 22 |||| |||| 9 |||| |||| |||| 19
Meth |||| || ||||
Cocaine |||| |||| |||| 19 |||| |||| 10 |||| |||| |||| 21
|||| |||| |
Heroin |||| |||| |||| 20 |||| |||| 10 |||| |||| |||| 20
|||| ||||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| 30 |||| |||| 10 |||| |||| 10
|||| |||| ||||

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No Not Sure

15
Q12. Do you think our community needs to do something about drug and alcohol
use?
DRUG YES ∑f NO ∑f NOT SURE ∑f
Cigarettes |||| |||| |||| 34 |||| 5 |||| |||| | 11
|||| |||| ||||
||||
Marijuana |||| |||| |||| 37 |||| ||| 8 |||| 5
|||| |||| ||||
|||| ||
Speed Crystal |||| |||| |||| 32 |||| 5 |||| |||| ||| 13
Meth |||| |||| ||||
||
Cocaine |||| |||| |||| 34 |||| 4 |||| |||| || 12
|||| |||| ||||
||||
Heroin |||| |||| |||| 34 |||| 5 |||| |||| | 11
|||| |||| ||||
||||
Alcohol |||| |||| |||| 41 |||| 5 |||| 4
|||| |||| ||||
|||| |||| |

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Cigarettes Marijuana Speed Crystal Cocaine Heroin Alcohol
Meth

Yes No Not Sure

16
Q13. Have you ever seen your friends had "blackouts" or "flashbacks" as a result
of drug use?

YES ∑f NO ∑f
|||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| 30 |||| |||| |||| |||| 20

35

30

25

20

15

10

Yes No

17
Q14. Which of the following are reasons why teenagers in your community try
drugs?

∑f
Peer Pressure |||| |||| |||| ||| 18
Depression |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| 39
Curiosity |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| 24
In the influence of |||| |||| 9
media
To cope with home |||| |||| |||| | 16
problems
Lack of parental |||| |||| |||| || 17
guidance
Others ||| 3

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Peer Pressure Depression Curiosity In the Influence Lack of Parental Others
of Media guidance

Series 1

18
Q15. How teenagers in your community have been affected by drug abuse?

∑f
Become Physically ill |||| |||| |||| ||| 18
Developed Mental |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ||| 33
illness
Turn to theft || 2
Behave violently |||| |||| |||| |||| 19
Others ||| 3
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Become Physically ill Developed Mental Turn to theft Behave violently Others
illness

Series 1

19
Q16. Have you ever seen your friends been in jail, hospital or any other treatment
center due to using?

YES ∑f NO ∑f
|||| |||| |||| | 16 |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| 34
||||

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
1

Yes No

20
Q18. If any school and community was to set up an action group to deal with the
current drug and alcohol use issue, would you be willing to be a part of this
group?

YES ∑f NO ∑f
|||| |||| |||| ||| 18 |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| 32
||
35

30

25

20

15

10

Yes No

21
Result

The sample taken for the questionnaire was of 50 participants, aged between 18
and 25. 21 out of the 50 participants (13 males, 7 females) accepted that they used
drugs/alcohol, as shown clearly in Figure 1.
One of the major relationships that were seen was between age and the usage of
drugs/alcohol. The researcher noticed that as age increased the usage amongst the
youth increased. For example 13 to 17 year old participants consumed no
drugs/alcohol, 18 to19 year olds only consumed alcohol while participants 19
above consumed all the drugs and alcohol that were asked about (Marijuana,
Speed/crystal meth, Cocaine, heroin, alcohol). However, many of the older
participants who did use these drugs had started using them between the ages of 15
to 22. The most commonly consumed items were alcohol and marijuana as can be
seen in Figure 2.
When asked whether they thought there is a problem with alcohol and drug usage
by the youth, drug users had the higher tendency to answer ‘no’ for the drug they
used. For example 7 out 15 marijuana users said no there is not a problem if the
youth consumed marijuana. Similarly, 8 out of 16 alcohol users thought that there
is no problem if the youth consumes alcohol. Drug users also tend to answer no
when asked if they would like to be a part of an action group to address the
problem of drug and alcohol usage by the youth (52.3%).
The information about these drugs is most gained from movies (74%) and internet
(68%). These sources are highly trusted by the participants as well (58% internet,
42% movies). All the drug users were perfectly aware of the effects of the
respective drugs they used. The easy availability has proved to be a big factor
towards this problem. 50% of the participants said that alcohol is easily available,
25% Marijuana while 25% said Alcohol (the most commonly used drug) was
easily available.
We asked for suggestions for how to counter the drug and alcohol use, majority
said that there should be tougher laws, counseling and restricted availability. Some
even went on to suggest arresting and putting owners of drugs in jail. We asked
what would work the best, counseling and support won the most votes (36 out of
50) followed by tougher laws (34 out of 50) and more school education (32 out of
50).

22
Figure 1:

100%
90%
80%
70%
60% drug user
50% non drug user

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
male female

Figure 2:

Items consumed

Cigarettes
Marijuana
Speed/crystal meth
Cocaine
Heroin
Alcohol

23
HYPOTHESIS

The main purpose of this research was to understand and address the problem of
drug and alcohol usage amongst the youth.

Through our research we tried to answer two major questions. First, what
motivates the youngsters to take drugs and alcohol at such a young age? Second,
what can be done?

What motivates the youngsters to take drugs and alcohol at such a young age?

Our research provided four major reasons for this. First, the stressors present at
home, most of the children from broken families, disturbed childhoods or even
those who witness constant bickering at are prone to the usage of such items.
Drugs are mostly used to relieve stress, to temporarily heal the wounds they have
in their heart and to run away from their problems. This does not solve anything
but is only a temporary relief provider. The relief and the substance both become
addictive overtime and eventually it becomes impossible to leave such items.

Another reason is peer pressure. If everyone in a group is drinking alcohol, you

might seem ‘un-cool’ if you’re the only one not drinking. that in a group of five
youngsters, if one is doing drugs to relieve stress four of them will be doing it for
recreational purposes. It is the casual and usage, as many of the respondents have
pointed out in the questionnaire, which has aggravated the problem. As seen in the
results, many of the users of drugs and alcohol do not even consider the usage as a
problem. It is not because they are not aware of the affects; results show that the
drug users are perfectly aware of the effects of the drugs they use. It is because the
usage is so common that the problems are not easily recognized.

24
 Easy availability of the drugs also aggravates the problem to the next level. As
seen in the results section cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol are one of the most
easily available items in the market.

One of the least common, but none the less, still one of the motivators to drug and
alcohol usage is the usage by parents or guardians at home, if an alcoholic has five
children, there is a chance that one of them will turn out to be an alcoholic too due
to the proneness to alcoholic behavior that is inherited genetically. Whatever the
case, the possibility of transferring the habit from father to son is very much there.
There are a number of solutions provided by both the respondents of the
questionnaire.

25
CONCLUSION

This research concludes that drug abuse in our youth have rapidly increased over
past few years, also that, most of the participants were not found guilty about it,
since its very common in our youth/society. We were able to find out that, the
usage of the drugs, keeps increasing with age. It usually happens when children go
through different stages in their lives, The initial stage, when children, come out of
their comfort zone leaving the security of their family and starts going to school.
Later they move to advance schooling systems, where they meet with many other
children coming from different backgrounds experiencing types of social situations
. Early adolescences stage is when children run into drugs for the first time and as
they grow up moving to higher educational levels like high school, college or
university, while experiencing emotional, educational and social challenges, they
might get introduced to larger groups taking drugs or may be find easy access to
drugs or activities where usage of drugs is very common. These children tend to
have high risk of drug abuse especially when parents do not intervene.

26