‘Drug, substance abuse among youths reflects social fabric breakdown’

WIDESPREAD drug and substance abuse among youths is symptomatic of a broken down socio-economic system in the country, a human rights group has said.

“Rising urbanisation without the corresponding industrialisation has trapped youths in the vicious cycle of unemployment, poverty, and drug addiction as they seek to escape the harsh realities of Zimbabwean life,” Zimbabwe Human Rights Association said in a statement issued to commemorate National Youth Day.

“It may be difficult, if not hypocritical, to address the problem of substance and drug abuse while on another hand, the very youths are maligned, arrested and persecuted for exercising their constitutional rights, such as their freedom of assembly and association.”

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