War against drug and substance abuse starts in our communities

The fight against drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe cannot be won by the Government alone.

It cannot be won by the police alone and, certainly, it cannot be won by schools, parents, churches or health institutions acting in isolation.

It must begin where the problem is experienced every day — in our communities!

Across Zimbabwe, concern over drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, has become an increasingly important social and public-health issue. The challenge is not simply about the substances themselves. It is about the young lives that can be disrupted, families that can be placed under strain, communities that can become less safe and a generation whose potential can be undermined.

Zimbabwe’s National Health Strategy seeks to reduce excessive alcohol and harmful drug use, particularly among young people, as a strategic intervention, while calling for stronger advocacy, prevention, treatment and enforcement.

The message is, therefore, clear: this is a national problem requiring a national response. However, the national response must have its roots in communities.

Prevention, like charity, starts at home. The first line of defence is often the family.

Parents and guardians cannot assume that because a child is attending school or spending time at home, they are automatically protected from exposure to drugs and harmful substances. Young people need communication, guidance and supervision.

Parents should create environments where children feel comfortable discussing peer pressure, relationships, alcohol, drugs and the challenges they encounter. A parent who asks questions, listens without immediately judging and maintains an open relationship with a child may be able to identify warning signs before a problem becomes severe.

This does not mean parents can prevent every case, but it means families can become an important source of protection, guidance and early intervention.

Communities must refuse to normalise substance abuse at all costs. A dangerous development in any society is when harmful behaviour becomes so common that people begin to regard it as normal. Drug abuse should not be romanticised as a symbol of being fashionable, rebellious or part of a particular social group.

At the same time, people struggling with substance-use problems should not simply be labelled as criminals or failures. They need accountability where the law requires it, but they also need access to appropriate health and rehabilitation services.

The World Health Organisation has previously emphasised that substance abuse requires broad stakeholder participation, including prevention, public awareness, treatment and rehabilitation; and this is where communities become critical.

Community leaders, churches, youth organisations, schools, health workers and civil society organisations can identify vulnerable young people and connect them with appropriate assistance.

Schools are another important front in this battle. Teachers interact with young people every day and are sometimes among the first adults outside the family to notice changes in behaviour.
A learner who suddenly becomes withdrawn, frequently misses lessons, experiences a sharp decline in performance or begins displaying behavioural changes may require attention and support.

Schools should, therefore, continue strengthening drug-prevention education and life-skills programmes.

However, awareness campaigns must go beyond simply telling young people to say, no. Young people should understand why substance abuse can be harmful, how peer pressure works, where to seek help and how to make responsible decisions.

Zimbabwe’s youth-health strategies have previously recognised the importance of community-based youth organisations, peer education, schools and innovative communication approaches in addressing issues affecting young people, including drug and substance abuse.

Young people must become part of the solution. Young Zimbabweans should not only be viewed as people who should be protected as they can also be powerful agents of change. Peer-to-peer education can be effective because young people often listen to those who understand their experiences.

Youth organisations can organise sporting activities, leadership programmes, mentorship initiatives, debates, arts programmes and community campaigns that provide positive alternatives and create spaces where young people can discuss the pressures they face. The objective should be to build young people who understand that their future is more valuable than temporary excitement or peer approval.

Rehabilitation is as important as prevention. While prevention must remain a priority, Zimbabwe must also recognise that some people are already struggling with substance-use disorders. Simply telling someone to stop may not be enough. Some individuals require counselling, medical assistance, rehabilitation and sustained support.

WHO has reported community-based efforts in Zimbabwe that train volunteers to respond to drug and substance-abuse crises, demonstrating the potential role of community structures in connecting people with appropriate support.

Therefore, rehabilitation should be viewed as part of the solution rather than an afterthought.

A person who recovers from substance abuse and rebuilds their life can become an example to others.

Law enforcement remains important and community responsibility does not mean ignoring the law. Those involved in the illegal manufacture, trafficking and distribution of dangerous substances must be dealt with through appropriate legal mechanisms.

Communities can also play a role by reporting criminal activity through proper channels, instead of protecting individuals involved in the drug trade. But enforcement must work alongside prevention, treatment and education.

A purely reactive approach will not address the underlying factors that make young people vulnerable. The fight against substance abuse is ultimately a fight for Zimbabwe’s future. Every young person protected from addiction represents a life with greater opportunity to contribute to family, community and country.

That is why the conversation must move beyond blaming one institution. The Government should continue strengthening public-health services, prevention programmes, rehabilitation and enforcement.

Churches and community organisations should provide mentorship and positive alternatives. Businesses and other partners can support awareness and rehabilitation programmes. And young people must take responsibility for the choices they make.

The war against drug and substance abuse will not be won in one campaign, one speech or one policy announcement.

It will be won through thousands of small actions taking place every day — a parent having a conversation with a child, a teacher noticing a struggling learner, a community leader organising a youth programme, a young person refusing peer pressure, a health worker helping someone seek treatment and a community refusing to allow drug abuse to become normal.

The battle for Zimbabwe’s future starts in our communities. If communities stand together, the message to the next generation can be clear: your life has value. Your future has value. And you do not need drugs to find your place in society.