Andrew
Emmanuel Kafe
The increasing incidence of mental health disorders being caused by drug and substance abuse could be costing the Zimbabwean economy more than US$160 million annually, a top mental health scientist has said.
Dr Gwatirera Javangwe, a leading psychologist with the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Applied Psychology, has said local companies are losing US$8,8 million indirectly due to workplace absenteeism caused by mental disorders.
“Currently, indications are that we have a burden of US$163 million per year,” he said.
“This is the amount of money we are losing as a country due to unidentified or unscreened, untreated mental health conditions, some of which include drug and substance abuse.
“We need to start with an early understanding of the burden and, as we currently noticed, we are losing millions of dollars in terms of the money people use for health care as well as money lost by companies when employees fail to turn up for work or they ask for sick leave days, which are drug-related problems.”
Dr Javangwe, who was speaking during the launch of the Abused Substances Diagnostics and Management (ASDM) Project in Harare last week, said US$500 000 is required for interventions to mitigate mental health issues.
The project seeks to increase access to screening, counselling and management services for mental health patients and combat drugs and alcohol abuse in the country over 10 years.
It is being implemented by the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences, the Zimbabwe College of Pathology (Chitungwiza Central Hospital) and FaStep Zimbabwe.
In an interview, the project’s principal investigator, Professor Hilda Matarira, said they have laid out strategies to tackle drug and substance abuse.
The strategies include providing counselling and referral services for identified drug and alcohol abusers.
“We seek to provide Zimbabweans with a comprehensive, coordinated, quality programme that addresses the impact of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse, which is integrated into Zimbabwe’s general medical system to improve the health of the country.
“We will also establish a drug helpline, and train community peer educators at various schools and institutes of higher learning,” she said.
The project, she added, will roll out a policy-guided voluntary rapid testing and screening services of up to 15 drugs.
Prof Matarira said the idea was motivated by the need to tackle the increasing problem of drug and alcohol abuse, especially among young people.
“In Zimbabwe, drug abuse has been associated with crime, high road accident rates, interpersonal violence, risky sexual behaviour (accompanied by an increased risk of HIV acquisition and STI incidences), negative health of users, negative psychological impacts on families and negative socio-economic impacts on their communities.
“Our main objective is to provide decision makers with sufficient information on the driving factors, affected population sub-groups, demographics, types of drugs, current service delivery levels, current screening mechanisms, supply and demand aspects and best practices to mitigate alcohol and drug abuse in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Deputy director of the Drug and Substance Unit in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Fanwell Dzoma said drug and substance abuse has reached alarming levels.
“Children as young as 10 years and adults well above 50 are abusing drugs and substances.
“Key findings in some studies in Zimbabwe indicate that drug abuse is at 57,1 percent among young people and the commonly abused substances and drugs are crystal meth, cocaine and histalix (a cough syrup),” he said.
Online Reporter