adminPride Sakupwanya
A FORMER alcoholic has now been sober for five years after 18 years of binge drinking.
Kumbirai Dhliwayo, founder of Healing Rain Foundation, blames peer pressure for the rampant drug and substance abuse by young people.
He said the effective fight against drug and substance abuse required a collective societal effort.
He said most young people indulged in substance abuse as a way of trying to deal with societal pressures.
“There is now a celebrity effect, where kids are now inspired by influencers, mostly in a negative manner.
“There is also celebration and glorification of anti-social behaviour in the society.
“Back in the day, drug and substance abuse was common only among the elite, but today, it is an in-thing in high-density suburbs,” he said.
Drug supply and demand is very high too.
“We now have so many drug dealers because they are responding to demand.
“The idea is not to just focus on drug dealers, but also reasons behind the increase in demand.
“Why do we have to wait for people to get addicted and then get them admitted to rehabilitation centres?
“The older generation has to handhold the younger generation to help save the youths,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter