Roman Catholic Father Herbert Banda has said while addressing various stakeholders and youth at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Entumbane that adopting the idea of safe spaces for the youth can help resolve the issue of drug abuse.
Banda said that various religious spaces must create platforms where they discuss and address community problems with the youth bringing into topic issues like drug abuse.
“Create platforms at your churches and religious sectors so that you discuss, educate, address and empower youth with knowledge on the severity of impacts of drug abuse,” he said.
Commenting on the resolutions and way forward Programs Manager for Youth Advocates Zimbabwe, Ndumiso Ncube said that religious leaders must create spaces for capacity building.
Ncube said,” Young people should be health champions in churches so that other young people feel free to air out their concerns during the discussions.”
He added that Youth Advocates Zimbabwe is doing initiatives with support from UNICEF to try and work with communities and young people in school and out of school in terms of addressing abuse of substances.
Meanwhile, drug use has been on an upward trend in Zimbabwe especially with the coming in of new dangerous drugs such Crystal Meth (Mutoriro/ Gukka Mkafela), Broncleer, codeine, cane spirit and recently water from boiled diapers and sanitary pads.
In 2021, Zimbabwe launched a five-year National Drug Master Plan which runs from 2020-2025 which seeks to address a range of drug related issues. The plan aims to address the problem of drug abuse in the country. It will provide a comprehensive framework for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Furthermore, the National Drug Master Plan was developed by the government in collaboration with various stakeholders. These stakeholders included civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international partners. The plan focuses on five key areas: demand reduction, supply reduction, harm reduction, research and evaluation, and institutional strengthening.
Moreover, under the plan, the government has committed to increasing funding for drug prevention and treatment programs. The funding will expand access to healthcare services for people with substance use disorders. It is also aimed at strengthening law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking and production.
The National Drug Master Plan is an important step towards addressing the drug abuse in Zimbabwe. Drug abuse has been a significant challenge for the country in recent years. The plan provides a comprehensive and coordinated approach to tackling the issue and highlights the importance of collaboration with communities.
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