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*"30% Of Zimbabwean Youths Are Hooked On Crystal Meth"*

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The number of young people using drugs such as crystal meth (mutoriro or guka) has risen alarmingly amid indications of a sharp increase in bed occupancy in mental health institutions due to drug abuse.

According to Wilson Box, the Chief Executive Officer for Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN), 30 per cent of youths in Zimbabwe are hooked on crystal meth.

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However, there is no official statics on the prevalence of drug use in the country.

Speaking during a sensitisation meeting for editors, Box said drug use is also increasing in workplaces. He said:

> 75 per cent to 85 per cent of bed occupancy in mental health institutions is due to substance use.

> Drug use in the workplace is also on the increase, especially for guys who do menial jobs in most of our industries in this country.

> Lastly, 30 per cent of youths in our country are on Crystal Meth or Gukka.

Box said marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the country due to its availability. He said:

> It is only recently that there is a situational analysis to look at drug use in five provinces that is commencing soon and is going to take about two to three weeks.

> The situational analysis of commonly used drugs in Zimbabwe shows that Marijuana always tops and it is readily available in our country.

> We have got Codeine-based substances which are so readily available because you can actually buy them over the counter.

> And then we have got Crystal Meth, Mutoriro or Gukka Makafela. This is the drug of choice for many including Sex workers and young people.

He also noted that drugs such as cocaine, which was considered a drug for the elite in the past, are now finding their way into poor townships. Said Box:

> Yesteryear cocaine used to be found in affluent suburbs but you can even get it in Mbare these days.

> We then have Heroin and domestic substances where young people are boiling diapers to extract the Sodium polyacrylate in them.

> We have got ecstasy, this is normally used at parties by young people.

> We have got prescription drugs like cough mixtures like Histalix and then we have glue, especially in street children.

> There is also a challenge of polydrug use whereby people who are taking drugs actually mix a concoction of drugs and this is also causing problems in our country.

Zimbabwe does not have public rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and services at available private rehabilitation centres are very expensive.

It costs roughly US$400 per week to stay and get treatment in a private rehabilitation centre in Zimbabwe.

*More: Health Times*

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