Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Young People in Zimbabwe: A Crisis of Morality or Public Health Problem

10 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2019

See all articles by Vakai Matutu

Vakai Matutu

North West University; North West University[RSA]

Daniel Mususa

Biomedical Research & Training Institute

Date Written: November 19, 2019

Abstract

Drug and substance continues to be on the rise in Zimbabwe. It is more prevalent in urban areas. Despite growing evidence that drug and substance abuse are on the increase especially among young people, there is little being done in terms of interventions conducted by the government and its partners to reduce drug and substance abuse among the youth. This paper is based on research conducted in Zimbabwe with the aim of understanding drug and substance abuse among young people in Zimbabwe. The study focused on the driving forces or push factors for drug and substance abuse among young people, the sources of illicit drugs and substances, prevalence of drug and substance abuse among young people as well as the interventions being implemented to address the problem of drug and substance abuse. The key findings indicate that prevalence of drug abuse is at 57% among young people, the most commonly abused drugs and substances are marijuana and alcohol. Peer pressure, breakdown of the family support system, limited knowledge about the effects of drug abuse and stress were identified as the major factors that drive substance and drug abuse among the youth. The criminalisation of the drug and substance abuse continues to make it difficult for young people to seek help when they suffer from the effects of the drug abuse. The paper recommends an emphasis on shift from the legal approach to a public health approach in-order to address the challenges and complications associated with drug and substance abuse among young people in Zimbabwe.

Keywords: drug and substance abuse, young people, public health

JEL Classification: I12

Suggested Citation

Matutu, Vakai and Mususa, Daniel, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Young People in Zimbabwe: A Crisis of Morality or Public Health Problem (November 19, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3489954 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3489954

Vakai Matutu (Contact Author)

North West University ( email )

Mafikeng
South Africa

North West University[RSA] ( email )

Mafikeng
South Africa

Daniel Mususa

Biomedical Research & Training Institute ( email )

Zimbabwe

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
3,973
Abstract Views
38,118
Rank
5,350
PlumX Metrics