26 June 2021
Drug abuse is life-threatening and the most problematic
cause of death in the world. It impacts millions and need to be treated
carefully to prevent further harm coming to people and steer them to lead a
better life. As we commemorate World Drug Day, this year‘s theme is #ShareFactsOnDrugs
to #SaveLives, focusing on the importance of awareness of the effects on drugs
and the dangers thereof, how to prevent, treat and care for people with
substance abuse.
Where progressive countries’ governments are doing
something- putting measures to curb drug and substance abuse such as
prohibition fares, webinars organised by the police, drug abuse talks from
experts, counselling for people and young adults in addiction centres in a bid
to ensure a sound rehabilitation of people suffering from substance abuse. In
Zimbabwe however, the police and securty agents are complicit. They are the
chielf perpetrators of corruption, receiving bribes from drug lords and drug rings
not to arrest them, a sad state of affairs. Zimbabwe’s economic crisis, along
with the Covid19 pandemic, has exacerbated the drug abuse epidemic as people
have lost their will to live, as long as Zanu-PF government in still in place. This
very government, supposed to look out for its people are responsible for
looting funds meant for their welfare, to repair the nearly non-existent healthcare
system. Consequently, the increased drug and substance abuse causes a rise in
social problem in most cities, with the youth milling the streets, high teenage
pregnancy, increased exposure to HIV?AIDS, addicts indulging their drug habit
by engaging in petty crime.
Covid-19 pandemic saw an increase in the number of drug use
as people struggled to cope in the lockdown. People who previously used drugs
and those with drug-use disorders were particularly vulnerable. The combination
of the two caused an accelerated shift in the pre-existing trafficking dynamics
across the whole global drug market. During the Covid-19 pandemic however, the
increased prominence of technology helped with innovations developing new ways
to treat people with drug-use disorders. But many people from low-income countries,
particularly in Africa, do not have access to controlled medicine. We must
forge for greater international co-operation, let us all continue bridging the
digital divide to extend the benefits of technology to all.
The abuse of drugs and illicit trafficking is a huge
loophole in the systems of many countries, many lives have been lost and or
destroyed because of it. We need to work on bridging the gap between what
is happening now and provision of a global ‘health for all’. Let us all play a
role in overcoming the “World Drug” problem by educating the youth about the
potential health risks of drug use and raising awareness -know the facts and be
in good stead to :
#SayNoToDrugs
#ShareFactsOnDrugs
#SaveLives
#WDD2021
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