Mining areas hotspots for drug and substance abuse in the Midlands
By Delicious Mathuthu
Mining districts in the Midlands Province have become hotspots for drug and substance abuse with schools, colleges and drinking spots being major hubs for the illicit activities, the Midlands anti drugs provincial taskforce has said.
Midlands Provincial Drug and Substance Abuse Inter-Ministerial Taskforce Chairperson, Mr George Madzima, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Alec Nyikadzino during the Provincial Youth Day celebrations in Zvishavane recently, said Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Zvishavane have recorded the highest number of abuse cases.
“Hotspot districts so far are Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Zvishavane while Mberengwa has the least figures reported.
“Across all districts, males are more dominant than females with the 21-45 year age group being the most affected.
“Specific areas where there is drug and substance abuse taking place are schools, tertiary colleges and drinking areas,” Madzima said.
Madzima said the province is experiencing an increase in drug and substance abuse which has resulted in high cases of crime and violence.
He said it is worrisome that almost 60 percent of Zimbabwean youths are into drug and substance abuse, which is responsible for the majority of mental related admissions in mental health institutions.
“…as you might be aware, our country at large and province in particular is experiencing an upsurge in illicit drug and substance use, especially among the youths.
“This has resulted in high rates of crimes and violence.
“Regrettably, socioeconomic development is ultimately retarded since those involved in drug abuse are the productive ages between 16-49 years.
“…previous studies conducted in Zimbabwe showed that 57.1% of our youth abuse drugs and substances while an estimated 3% of the adult population have had either drug or alcohol use disorder.
“Furthermore, the majority of admissions in our country’s mental health institutions and correctional services are drug and substance related problems which is worrisome,” he said.
Some of the negative effects of drug and substance abuse include family and community disintegration, reduction in economic productivity, stigma and discrimination, mental health problems, HIV, sexual abuse, terrorism, human trafficking, school dropouts and gender based violence among many others, Madzima said.
The National Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse, which has structures across all provinces, is chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare and deputized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture.
The task-forces, as Madzima said, has five key pillars which are supply reduction of the drugs and substances chaired by the national security in the President’s office.
Then demand reduction chaired by Youth Sports Arts and Culture; Harm reduction chaired by the Health and Child Care Ministry; Treatment and rehabilitation chaired by Health and Child Care Ministry as well as community reintegration chaired by the Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Ministry.
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