CHURCHES and various stakeholders in Bulawayo recently hosted an Interfaith Symposium on Drug Abuse to raise community awareness on drug and substance abuse among youths.
The event was held at the Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Entumbane suburb, which is one of the hotspots of drug and substance abuse. Speaking at the event, Lady Queen of Peace Parish Father Herbert Banda said the importance of the symposium was to build on the need for religious structures to make a contribution to moral development of the country’s citizens.
“We want to make a contribution to our communities because drug abuse is going out of hand and religious structures are given a certain respect from the people who take religion seriously and because of that we can have a certain level of influence,” said Fr Banda.
He said religious ministers or clerks were not well informed about what was going on in society and a platform like the one they held would expose them to what was going on so that they could assist and find solutions.
Fr Banda said the war against drug abuse was not easy to win because there were quite a number of reasons that needed to be unveiled as most drug kingpins or those doing the business remained anonymous.
“We have drug abusers. These are the people we are interested in but unfortunately, they do not come forward as they enjoy themselves and think they do not want any help. Others have, however, faced the challenges associated with drugs and have sought help. This symposium was motivated by what we see and kick-starting the process of engagement is what will help us.”
Fr Banda said they would make resolutions as to how to curb the spread of drug and substance abuse, especially to those that have not started and they would outline the dangers.
Mental health therapist, Ms Blessing Masola outlined some of the dangers associated with drug and substance abuse. She said the substances that youths were taking have a very negative impact on their mental and physical health.
“Youths who come from unfortunate families and are struggling at home tend to turn more to use of drugs as they look for happiness and as an escape route from their uncomfortable backgrounds. They will be running away from facing their problems but that is not the solution as in the process they will be aggravating their problems.”
Ms Masola advised parents to sit down and have honest conversations with their children as well as checking up on their mental health to find out how they were doing and coping since some were towards adulthood.
She said this would ensure they avoid turning to their friends and agemates for advice which ends up forcing them to take drugs to stay intoxicated.
Youths Advocates Zimbabwe district programmes manager, Mr Ndumiso Ncube said they were working with communities and young people at school and out of school to address the abuse of drugs and substances.
He said the organisation was working with Unicef in an in-school awareness campaign on drug and substance abuse with the objective of changing young people’s behaviours.
They are working with Lobengula High School, Masotsha High School, Sikhulile High School, and Mazwi Primary School to address issues of drug abuse as some children bring drugs to school from the community. – Sunday News
