Andrew
Sunday Mail Correspondent
Recent revelations that the abuse of crystal methamphetamine, or crystal meth, by youths has become pervasive has taken the country by surprise.
The illegal drug, known as “guka makafela” or “mutoriro”, resembles shiny “rocks” or fragments of glass of varying sizes.
It is both odourless and colourless.
Made in illegal labs often by combining ingredients derived from over-the-counter drugs with toxic substances, the drug can be smoked in pipes, snorted, injected, swallowed or ingested rectally.
It is believed that some youths are using fluorescent light bulbs to take the drug.
But studies have shown that it is potentially fatal. Doctors have naturally become worried by the exponential increase in incidents of drug-related diseases.
“At our mental health institutions, 65 percent of admissions are due to drug abuse. The challenge we have at the moment though is that most of the rehabilitation centres that we have are private institutions. We need to establish Government-run institutions to assist disadvantaged members of society that are at risk but not getting help,” Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) secretary-general Dr Sacrifice Chirisa recently told The Sunday Mail.
The central business district (CBD), especially areas such as Copacabana, Eastgate, Sam Nujoma Street and Fife Avenue are rumoured to be some of the prominent places where this drug is commonly found.
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World reports that there are over 24 million people who abuse crystal meth worldwide.
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