Ice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Understanding Methamphetamine Use and Community Responses

ISSUP in Pakistan presents 'Ice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Understanding Methamphetamine Use 
and Community Responses', a webinar with Dr. Sameer Ul Khaliq Jan.

Date: Tuesday, 16th June 2026

Time: 6:00 PM Pakistan  | 2:00 PM UK Time 

Register for the Webinar

This webinar presents findings from a mixed-methods PhD study examining methamphetamine (“ice”) use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Using an explanatory sequential design, the study integrates quantitative data from 180 individuals who use methamphetamine with qualitative insights from 14 field experts, including psychiatrists and treatment professionals. 

The session will explore key risk factors isolated from the sample contributing to methamphetamine use, including ease of availability, curiosity, peer influence, and academic pressure. It will also examine the wide-ranging consequences of use, including social, economic, psychological, and physical harms. 

The webinar will highlight patterns such as transition from other substances (e.g., hashish) to methamphetamine and discuss the broader implications for public health and community wellbeing. Evidence-based recommendations will be provided for prevention, early intervention, and treatment, with a focus on contextually relevant strategies for Pakistan and similar settings. 

The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A discussion. 

Intended audience:

• Substance use prevention and treatment professionals  

• Social workers and psychologists  

• Healthcare providers (psychiatrists, physicians)  

• Researchers and academics  

• Policy makers and NGO professionals in drug demand reduction 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the webinar, participants will understand the current substance use treatment landscape in Pakistan and key system gaps and be able to:

1. Describe the key risk factors associated with methamphetamine use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  

2. Understand the social, economic, psychological, and physical consequences of methamphetamine use  

3. Identify patterns of substance use transition (e.g., from hashish to methamphetamine)  

4. Interpret research findings using mixed-method approaches  

5. Apply evidence-based strategies for prevention, treatment, and policy response.

Presenter:

Dr. Sameer Ul Khaliq Jan 
Lecturer in Social Work / Researcher in Substance Use.

Dr. Sameer Ul Khaliq Jan is a lecturer in Social Work, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir Upper, Pakistan and a researcher specializing in substance use, prevention, and rehabilitation. His PhD research focuses on methamphetamine use in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with particular emphasis on risk factors, consequences, and evidence-based interventions. 

References:

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Drug Reports.  

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Methamphetamine Research Report.  

• World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on substance use treatment.  

• Relevant peer-reviewed literature on stimulant use and public health. 

Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.