Majority of drug addicts usually start with soft drugs like 'Chaaliya', 'Naswar', 'Gutka' and 'Paan' and then move to the hard drugs like Cannabis, Heroin, Opium, Cocaine, Ice etc. The purchase of drugs or alcohol by young people is usually through dealers or 'agents', who are just a phone call away. Their numbers are distributed widely at hostels for students. In Pakistan, users can get up to 20 Chars cigarettes only for Rs 1400. The drug abuse is often linked to factors such as risk taking behaviors that may involve experimenting with narcotics, smoking and alcohol, social isolation, stress, anxiety, depression, peer pressure (bad company), modern life style, hippy culture, family conflicts, unemployment, excessive pocket money by parents and lack of supervision and attention, the desire for social acceptance, boredom, curiosity, just to feel good, weak religious belief and lot of free time, easy access to drugs at low prices, and easy availability, existence and presence of drug dens, to heighten sexual pleasure, and extension of timing, to overcome frustration and/or tragedies, usage as a pain medication and fashion.

Physical health and sexual health of addicts weaken so rapidly that a young man of thirties looks an old man of over-sixties. "Drug use in general leads to a number of health problems, such as malnutrition, apathy, menstrual irregularities in women and irregular heart rhythm and premature death."

Some of the physical effects of drugs might sound nice but they do not last long. Many people get depressed and start feeling sick. There is economic breakdown of family, loss of self-confidence and a will to work, loss of job, indulgence in crimes such as theft, and suicidal thoughts. Drug addicts are also more prone to accidents and are at higher risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, tuberculosis, suicide, overdose deaths and cardiovascular diseases. Married drug addicts have high probability of having mentally retarded and physically handicapped children. Young people who use cannabis are doubling their risk of psychotic symptoms like schizophrenia, hallucinations, hearing voices etc.