Vusumuzi Dube
Michelle Musandinyoze
ZIMPAPERS, Zimbabwe’s largest integrated media company, is taking a proactive stand against drug and substance abuse, a scourge that continues to affect many lives across the country.
Last week, the media house hosted a Drug and Substance Abuse Indaba in Bulawayo, bringing together various stakeholders, organisations and youth to discuss the escalating crisis and explore ways to combat it. The event cements Zimpapers’ commitment to creating a safe and healthy environment for Zimbabwean youth while promoting a positive future for the next generation.
Drug and substance abuse, the event revealed, is not only a challenge for young people but also affects older adults, who sometimes turn to substances as a coping mechanism to escape life’s pressures.
Speaking to pupils at the event, Ingutsheni Central Hospital’s chief occupational therapist, Dr Unity Chitapi, urged youths to uphold strong moral values and make principled choices, resisting peer pressure and other influences that may lead them into illicit behaviours.
Dr Chitapi highlighted the risks and consequences associated with drug use, including behavioural problems and declining school performance, emotional isolation and depression, fatigue, hostility, irritability and strained relationships at home, dishonesty and evasiveness.
He also warned about an emerging trend of “club drugs”, commonly used by teens and young adults at bars, nightclubs, concerts and parties to heighten sensory experiences and reduce inhibition, further exacerbating the problem among the youth.
The Government has classified drug and substance abuse as a “national disaster”, citing its destructive impact on society, particularly young people. In response, authorities have implemented mitigation measures, including the establishment of rapid reaction teams operating from national to village levels to curb the menace.
In an interview, Ingutsheni Central Hospital’s clinical director, Dr Wellington Ranga, explained why young people are particularly vulnerable.
“The problem is that it is attractive to get into drugs and substance abuse, and everyone is doing it. Even your peers might justify it,” he said, stressing the need for early intervention and community support to protect young people from falling into the trap.
The Bulawayo Indaba was attended by pupils, educators, therapists, and psychologists, reflecting a collaborative approach to tackling the issue.
By fostering awareness and promoting responsible behaviour, Zimpapers aims to contribute to a long-term solution to the country’s drug and substance abuse crisis.
Online Reporter