Beneath the surface of campus life across Zimbabwe’s universities and polytechnics, a quiet crisis is unfolding. A growing number of students are being pulled into alcohol abuse, cannabis use, prescription drug misuse and emerging synthetic substances—while under-resourced institutions and a culture of silence limit access to help.
On a typical Thursday evening near a major university town, students gather to pool their last few dollars for a shared bottle of cane spirit. Some have lectures the next morning; others have not attended class in days. What began for many as a coping mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic has hardened into habit—one that lecturers discuss quietly and parents often discover too late.
There is no national hotline on campus noticeboards, no coordinated government strategy targeting substance use at tertiary level. The problem remains largely unspoken.
A growing problem
Zimbabwe’s universities and polytechnics enrol hundreds of thousands of students. Health practitioners around these institutions say substance use disorders have been rising steadily since at least 2018, with a noticeable spike during and after the pandemic.
Alcohol remains the most widely used substance. Studies indicate that over half of university students have consumed alcohol, with many engaging in binge drinking. A 2022 study across three universities found 61% of students had consumed alcohol in the previous month, while nearly a quarter reported hazardous drinking behaviour. Cannabis use stood at about 28%, while prescription drug misuse was reported at 14%—figures researchers say are likely underestimates due to stigma.
“These students are not deviant. They are distressed,” said a clinical psychologist at a Harare-based university clinic. “They are managing anxiety, economic pressure and academic stress with whatever tools are available.”
Pressure and escape
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Zimbabwe’s economic realities—high inflation, unemployment, erratic power supply—form the backdrop to student life. Many arrive on campus already carrying the weight of disrupted schooling, financial strain and family instability. University, rather than easing these pressures, often amplifies them.
Accommodation shortages push students into overcrowded off-campus housing. Living costs outpace allowances. Many juggle part-time work with demanding academic schedules. Meals are skipped, stress builds—and substances offer temporary relief.
Academic pressure adds to the strain. High-stakes examinations and competitive grading systems mean failure carries serious consequences, including loss of sponsorship and diminished job prospects. Some students turn to stimulants, often obtained informally, in a bid to cope.
Gender dynamics also shape the crisis. Male students report higher levels of alcohol and cannabis use, often linked to social norms. Female students, meanwhile, face greater vulnerability to coercion and heightened risks, including sexual violence, when intoxicated.
Systems under strain
Most universities have counselling services and student welfare offices. However, these are widely described as overstretched and underfunded.
Disciplinary systems tend to dominate institutional responses. Students caught with illegal substances are more likely to face suspension than referral for treatment. Critics say this pushes the problem underground.
“We suspend students without asking why they are using,” said a university official who declined to be named. “That question is often the most important one.”
The stigma barrier
Stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to seeking help. Substance use disorders are often seen as moral failings rather than health conditions. For students, admitting a problem can damage their social standing and sense of identity.
As a result, many only seek help after a crisis—academic failure, illness or legal trouble—when early intervention opportunities have already been lost.
Religious communities, influential in student life, play a dual role. For some, they offer support and structure. For others, they deepen shame and discourage openness about substance use.
What needs to change
Experts say the solutions are clear, but implementation is lacking.
Universities need more counsellors—far more than current levels. Services must be accessible, confidential and actively promoted. Prevention programmes should go beyond abstinence messaging to include peer education and mental health awareness.
There is also a need to address broader drivers, including student funding, accommodation and food security. Substance use does not exist in isolation.
Authorities must also tighten regulation of alcohol and prescription drugs around campuses, where illegal sales are common.
Above all, institutions need to acknowledge the problem openly.
“We are not broken”
A fourth-year student at a Harare university, speaking anonymously, described developing alcohol dependency after personal trauma. She continued to pass her exams, but at a cost.
When she sought help, she was placed on a waiting list. She never returned.
“I am not unique,” she said. “There are many of us going through this.”
Her words reflect a wider reality: Zimbabwe’s students are not a lost generation, but a pressured one.
The crisis on campuses will not resolve itself. It requires resources, honesty and a shift from punishment to care.
Lecture halls are full. But beyond them, a silent struggle continues—one that can no longer be ignored.
Praexidis Dekwende is a Psychology student at Great Zimbabwe University.
