By Morgen Makombo Sikwila
Drug use is a significant issue among young people in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean youth demographic accounts for the majority of the overall population.
The use of drugs is increasing despite widespread awareness of its detrimental effects. Drug addiction has resulted in a significant decrease in productivity among a majority of individuals. Drug use negatively impact the overall human capital of the nation, making it a prevalent societal issue.
It is evident that drug usage among Zimbabwean youth is rapidly increasing, which is regrettable as it leads to youths becoming drug addicts and subsequently, unproductive.
Drug use has detrimental consequences on drug users, as well as their socioeconomic well-being, including their family, community, and nation as a whole. Drug usage is more prevalent in urban areas. Drug and substance misuse among young people is increasing. Zimbabwe is not the only country experiencing this issue. Youth unemployment is high and is resulting in rampant violence and crime.
Drug and substance misuse is a worldwide pandemic that is affecting every country without exception. Drug misuse is having a global impact that transcends racial, religious, and national boundaries. The global rise in illicit drug issues is both a result of and a factor contributing to international tensions.
The causes of these tensions include swift shifts in political alliances, weakened bonds within families and communities, higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, economic and social exclusion and an upsurge in criminal activities. It is therefore, evident that drug usage is a pervasive issue that impacts the entire world. A larger proportion of youths is experiencing negative effects from the consumption of prescription medications compared to the combined usage of cocaine and heroin.
Economic hardships result in a substantial proportion of individuals losing their jobs and youths, particularly graduates failing to secure employment. Unemployment is one of the major challenges that contribute to drug and substance use. Unemployment is a contributing factor to the problem of drug and substance use among young people. Zimbabwean youth encounter the challenge of unemployment and frequently lack the financial resources to initiate income-generating initiatives. This leads to the adolescents having a significant amount of free time and virtually no activities to engage in.
The perception of separation from families is also contributing factor to the prevalence of drug and substance use among young individuals. Youths encounter various obstacles, although families often lack comprehension of their experiences and fail to empathize with their frustrations.
Individuals with limited connections to their family, friends, and community are more likely to participate in criminal behavior and substance misuse. A significant number of young people engage in excessive drug and substance use due to a lack of empathy, love, and understanding from their parents and families. These relationships are expected to provide care, compassion, and kindness to the youth.
There is need to emphasize the preservation of connections to family, school, peer groups, and other social, political, and religious organizations. When an individual is coerced into engaging in harmful activities, such as drug use, their behavior turns negative.
The economic gaps exert a substantial influence on young individuals, compelling many to resort to drug use as a consequence of the ensuing poverty and financial constraints. Poverty and the restrictions caused by financial limitations is one of the major social problems that youth are encountering. Youth are incapacitated to meet their essential needs, encompassing physical, social, security, and self-esteem requirements.
It can be contended that economic adversity, as depicted in the narratives of today’s youth lead to destitution due to widespread unemployment, financial instability, and poverty. Their inability to provide for themselves or their families places significant strain on these individuals, leading them to resort to drug use. The majority of these individuals who partake in drugs and substances consume drugs mostly for the purpose of seeking warmth, particularly during the winter season, due to their lack of adequate shelter. Socioeconomic factors at the individual, community, and national levels can directly impact drug use. Economic downturns and subsequent rise in unemployment are linked to higher rates of drug use disorders.
Factors such as impoverished living situations, limited educational and career opportunities, and unfavorable neighborhood and housing characteristics, result in drug-related behaviors. Young individuals resort to drug use as a means of alleviating stress caused by poverty and unemployment. Nevertheless, it is evident that the economic volatility in Zimbabwe leads to a significant number of young people being unemployed and facing financial instability, ultimately resulting in poverty and their inclination towards deviant behavior. In order to understand this, Maslow observed that physiological needs encompass the fundamental biological necessities for human survival, such as air, food, water, shelter, clothes, sexual activity, sleep, and warmth.
It is worth emphasizing that unemployment has left numerous young individuals without any occupation or activity. Consequently, individuals experience psychological distress in the form of depression when contemplating their life trajectory and existential purpose. Accordingly, there is a consensus that unemployment is a contributing factor to the problem of drug and substance use among young people. Unemployment continues to be a significant global issue.
Economic difficulties in Zimbabwe have led to a significant number of individuals experiencing unemployment. This situation is disheartening since it involves individuals who have completed their higher education levels and are now in a phase where they are supposed to be self-sufficient, but are unable to do so due to their lack of employment.
Corruption and porous borders are closely interconnected. Illicit drugs are shipped into the country across the borders within surrounding countries, and Zimbabwe has facilitated the smooth movement of these drugs. Corruption is combated through the enforcement of rules and regulations that regulate borders, ensuring that no unlawful items are allowed to enter the country. Permeable borders and systemic corruption have resulted in the escalation of drug and substance misuse.
It is important to start by noting where these drugs are coming from, how are they are entering our country Zimbabwe. Thus, it can be emphasized that porous borders and corruption have resulted in an increase in the prevalence of drug and substance use among young individuals. Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant surge in drug consumption among its youth, indicating that a substantial portion of these substances are purportedly being smuggled into the country through its porous borders with neighboring nations. Some people engage in drug smuggling due to lax rules and enforcement. Individuals have the ability to pay their way through checkpoints, even if they are carrying illegal narcotics.
Based on the accounts and firsthand experiences, it is evident that socio-economic variables have contributed to the prevalence of drug misuse among young people, and this trend persists. This is because individuals’ social and economic experiences, as well as their daily lives, exert a significant influence on their decision-making processes. Socio-economic factors, including economic disparities, social disparities, poverty, unemployment, financial constraints, inflation, peer pressure, and institutional dysfunction, influence youth decisions to use drugs and substances. There is a significant correlation between individuals’ socioeconomic status and their decision-making patterns in daily life. A significant number of young people is being impacted by the social environment, resulting in many being swayed by their peers to engage in drug and substance use. In the realm of social dynamics, it is worth mentioning that the failure of institutions such as schools, families, and churches to fulfill their roles has resulted in a sense of detachment, a loss of belonging, and a lack of empathy and affection. These factors have had a significant impact on young individuals, leading them to engage in drug consumption. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that young individuals often turn to drugs as a means of coping with the socio-economic pressures they face.
Due to the lack of employment, limited possibilities, and financial restraints, some individuals have resorted to engaging in drug trafficking as a means of generating income. It can be inferred that there is a significant correlation between socioeconomic factors and the rise of drug and substance addiction among young people in Zimbabwe.
Morgen Makombo Sikwila
MSc Peace and Governance
BSc Counselling
Diploma in Environmental Health
Certificate in Marketing Management
email address: morgensikwilam@gmail.com
Phone Number: 0772823282
