DRUG TRAFFICKING AND THE GROWING USE OF CRYSTAL METH (ICE) AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SOUTH PUNJAB: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The use of crystal methamphetamine commonly referred to as ‘ice' has emerged as a public health and sociological problem among university students in Pakistan. This study aims to examine sociological factors associated with crystal methamphetamine use: Drug trafficking exposure, peer influence, family environment, economic stress, academic stress, and social media exposure. The study is conducted primarily based on sociological theories and is a quantitative cross sectional study (knowledge survey) conducted among 400 university students of South Punjab using multistage stratified random sampling. The data will be analyzed descriptively, correlated, chi-square and multiple regression. The purpose of this study is to determine the primary social factors related to crystal methamphetamine use and to recommend evidence-based strategies for prevention, intervention, policy planning, and institutional strategies to minimize crystal methamphetamine abuse among university students.