Holistic approach needed to fight drug abuse among youths

TAPIWA* is an 18-year-old youth living in Harare’s Epworth suburb. He is a school dropout who is now hooked on drugs. Tapiwa is one of the many youths affected by drug and substance abuse which is on the rise in Zimbabwe’s urban areas.

Peer pressure, breakdown of the family support systems due to divorce or death of parents and limited knowledge about the effects of drug abuse and stress are some of the major factors that drive substance and drug abuse among the youth in Zimbabwe.

In the past, the most commonly abused drug was cannabis (mbanje) mainly because it is grown locally.

Currently, there is an increase in the type of drugs being abused which include crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro or guka), cough mixtures such as histalix and bron clear, glue and heroin.

Recently, there has been talk of the use of used sanitary pads and diapers to make a cheaper alternative.

This is claimed to help them get high at a low cost. In the elite societies like the low-density areas, drugs like cocaine are commonly abused.

Young people in Zimbabwe seem to be the most vulnerable section of the population, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds who may be tempted to see drugs as an escape from life’s troubles.

Drug abuse is also prevalent in schools now mainly because of the influence of social media, or just the simple thrill of it and peer pressure.

A lot of cases have been reported in private schools. This is probably because of availability of resources, like money, to purchase the drugs.

Drug abuse is criminalised in Zimbabwe, therefore, the youth may find it difficult to open up and seek necessary help when they are faced with this challenge.

They tend to sink deeper into the abuse problem since they have no support.

The Government has come up with some interventions to curb the illegal practice. These include adopting a multi-sectoral approach to curb drug abuse especially among the youth.

This also includes the identification and improvement of community-based activities, including establishment of parent support groups and patient support groups.

There are still some challenges as some family members are not trained to deal with the problems they encounter with the victims.

Some victims tend to be violent and it can be fatal. In one incident that occurred in Gweru a few years ago, a mother was stabbed by her son after refusing to give him money for drugs. This is unfortunate because there is not enough support for the victims and their families.

The very severe cases are referred to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital or Annexe at Parirenyatwa where they are assisted.

Unfortunately, the private institutions and therapists are beyond the reach of the majority as they are expensive.

Psychological services tend to be expensive. It is unfortunate some psychologist have left the country in search of greener pastures.

Currently, there has been quite a high demand of these psychologists in other countries because of the Covid-19 pandemic that affected the whole world.

In Zimbabwe, there was a lot of stigmatisation about mental health issues and people would not seek help, but of late it has become topical as also evidenced by the rise in substance and drug abuse.

There is need to increase mental institutions and establish more rehabilitation institutions and programmes for these victims who cannot afford the private institutions.

Police have tried to remove children living on the streets where a lot of drug and substance abuse takes place, but due to lack of adequate resources, they end up back on the streets again.

Social media can also be used by authorities to educate the youths on the dangers of drug and substance.

This becomes effective as it can reach out to more youth as there is now a massive use of social media by this generation.

The Government has done very well in educating the youth and encouraging skills through different income generating projects.

The New Dispensation is encouraging youth empowerment and creation of employment through various initiatives including the recent Manhize Steel Plant in Mvuma which has already created thousands of jobs for the community.

This in line with the Government’s vision 2030 which is aimed at creating an empowered and upper middle-income society in Zimbabwe.

This is a good initiative which can help reduce unemployment.

The Government can also encourage these foreign investors to embark on corporate social responsibility programmes by introducing and funding projects for youth in their respective areas.

There is a lot that needs to be done to curb drug and substance abuse among youth in Zimbabwe as it has become a major cause of concern.

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