Impact of substance abuse on society

EDITOR — Addiction both to prescription and illicit street drugs is a growing problem. This problem is affecting both the rich and the poor. The only difference is the type of drugs being used.

Substance addiction has a severe impact not only on the individual, but those closest to them, and society as a whole. In Zimbabwe, substance addictions cost the government millions of USD each year. These costs can be attributed to crime, disease, accidents, domestic violence, abuse, job loss, and homelessness.

It is said that substance use causes one in 10 deaths and results in numerous economic and social consequences.

A substance addiction deteriorates an individual’s physical and mental well being. Many times, an individual will lose their job and their family, resulting in sustaining support from society.

Families of those caught in the downward spiral of addiction go through a lot. Often-times, they are subjected to domestic violence, abuse, and financial struggles. Children in this type of environment are at risk for begin removed from the home and placed into foster custody.

If you are worried that you or a loved one may have an addiction, there are signs to help you know:

— You keep taking a drug after it is no longer needed for a health problem.

— You need more and more of a substance to get the same effects

— You feel strange when the drug wears off. You may be shaky, depressed, and sick to your stomach, sweat, or have headaches.

— You may also be tired or not hungry. In severe cases, you could even be confused, have seizures, or run a fever.

— You can’t stop yourself from using the drug, even if you want to.

You are still using it even though it is making bad things happen in your life, like trouble with friends, family, work, or the law.

— You spend a lot of your time thinking about the drug: how to get more, when you will take it, how good you feel, or how bad you feel afterwards.

— You have a hard time giving yourself limits. You might say you’ll only use “so much” but then can’t stop and end up using twice that amount. Or you use it more often than you are meant to.

— You have lost interest in things you once liked to do.

— You have begun having trouble doing normal daily things, like cooking or working.

— You drive or do other dangerous things when you are on the drug.

— You borrow or steal money to pay for drugs. — You hide the drug use or the effect it is having on you from others.

— You’re having trouble getting along with co-workers, teachers, friends, or family members.

They complain more about how you act or how you’ve changed.

—You sleep too much or too little, compared with how you used to.

— You have a new set of friends with whom you do drugs and go to different places to use the drugs.

— You go to more than one doctor to get prescriptions for the same drug or problem.

— You look in other people’s medicine cabinets for drugs to take.

— You take prescribed meds with alcohol or other drugs.

— Changes in personality and behaviour like a lack of motivation, irritability, and agitation

— Shakes, tremors, or slurred speech

— Change in their daily routines

— Lack of concern for personal hygiene — Unusual need for money; financial problems — Changes in friends and activities

If you think you or someone you know has a problem, seek help as soon as possible.

The sooner an addict gets help, the better. Reach out to a drug rehabilitation programme.

Highlands Halfway House in Highlands and Borrowdale Halfway House in both in Harare will be able to assist you right here in Zimbabwe.