SIX out of 10 patients admitted to Zimbabwe’s mental health institutions have drug-related problems as the wobbling economy fuels drug abuse, a policy paper by the Health ministry has revealed.
BERNARD MPOFU
Years of bad governance, successive droughts and, more recently, the outbreak of Covid-19 have worsened economic fortunes in the country, resulting in massive job cuts.
With independent statistics showing that Zimbabwe’s unemployment levels are hovering around 80%, unemployed youths are now turning to drug abuse as a form of escapism from the harsh realities.
According to the latest Zimbabwe National Drug Master Plan, the government has adopted an integrated and comprehensive approach that will address a range of drug-related issues. These include illicit and licit drugs. Critics however doubt that most targets will be achieved.
“Currently approximately 60% of patients admitted in mental health institutions suffer due to drug-related problems,” reads the report in part.
“Due to the socio-economic situation, Zimbabwe is facing increasing cases of depression, trauma and stress which has led to the increase in drug use. Hence as a nation there is need to have a concerted effort to address this menace. Alcohol, marijuana, crystal meth (mutoriro) and Broncleer among others are the main drugs being abused especially by youths. Excessive use of alcohol and drugs damage the health of users and is linked to rises in addiction and non-communicable diseases including HIV and Aids, cancer, heart diseases, psychological disorders and an increase in road traffic accidents.”
The report noted that common substances of abuse in Zimbabwe are alcohol (both licensed and unlicensed brews), tobacco, cannabis and non-medicinal use of controlled medicines such as codeine containing cough medicines and benzodiazepines.
“Drug use increased far more rapidly among developing countries over the 2000-2018 period than in developed countries. Adolescents and young adults account for the largest share of those using drugs, while young people are also the most vulnerable to the effects of drugs because they use the most and their brains are still developing,” the report reads.
Experts say up to 253 000 deaths globally were a result of illicit drug use. Alcohol and drug use are also linked to HIV and hepatitis infections through risky sexual behaviour and injecting drugs. Cannabis is the most commonly abused illicit substance followed by amphetamines and then opiates.
Heroin, opioids and prescription opiates use are on the rise in Africa. Non-medicinal use of prescription and non-prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs is increasingly becoming a problem worldwide.
“In Zimbabwe it has been estimated that approximately 3% of the adult population (450 000 people) had either a drug or alcohol use disorder (World Health Organisation),” the report reads.
“Alcohol and substance use-related problems are one of the top three problems seen in mental health services in all 10 provinces (Ministry of Health and Child Care).”
