Drugs in Harare

Hi All, I have had lots of response to the email about drugs in Zimbabwe and give a few more comments below – any more will be posted on our web site

Please note that I cannot analyse every response in detail but I try not to send out anything that is defamatory or will place people in jeopardy. Please take care in what you state in your comments and give a Nom de Plume. The bottom line seems to be that we do have a major drug problem that is mostly

“Kept Behind Closed Doors”  Regards Mike G. http://www.bambazonke.co.zw/forums.html

.......

As a mother of three 21 ,20 &19 year old children I know there is a problem. Maybe if the parents popped into said clubs they would see what was going on. I believe kids hang around with their own kind. Manage your childrens friends more, spend time with them and their friends. This problem is not going to improve. Also on the flip side you cannot live your kids lives. I have a nephew who is addicted to CAT in Sa. He is destroying his family. Also stats show addiction and abuse in a family is often repeated by children. MOMMY WITH TATTOOS

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Statistics indicate that one third of the world’s population will develop schizophrenia, an incurable disease, from dagga smoking.  Which third do you fit into??? Think on this before you take your first puff!!! Caregiver

...................

Guys, the problem is not from the drug lords, or the peer pressure or any other place. The problems start from home, where we show our kids how to drink alcohol irresponsibly. Alcohol is a drug end of story, and children learn what they live. The buck starts at home, with the parents, showing our kids the responsible way to live. Drive past any Watering hole or a bottle store for that matter on Friday or Saturday evenings, and see how "the parents" of these kids are drinking copious amounts, then driving home drunk. We give them licence by our actions. There are programs in schools being run, speaking to kids about these dangers, but what do you expect. Parents are the role models. Is the example you are setting your kids the correct one? Sober Dad

..................

I asked my nephew who is an entertainer how bad the drug problem was in Harare and he said it was very bad. He acknowledged that the youth were smoking dagga but the worst cocaine users were the affluent adults in the 40 to 50 age group. If this is the case then what hope do our children have. Sadly dagga is considered a safe drug. I have been to parties where the majority of adults from 30 upwards were smoking it. This perception needs to be addressed and the dangers of dagga need to be made public – maybe schools should be visited and children spoken to. Frog

................

I do agree that there is a drug problem here. Yes it is prevalent among the youth of today but its use is also (sadly) largely common among the would be parenting generation. I am afraid there does not seem to be much for the youth to model themselves Upon. This last Valentine's Day my step-son and his friend both brought their Valentines home. I was shocked at the lack of respect, courtesy and manners of these girls the morning after, clearly shown by the fact that they sat on my veranda and lit up a joint of marawana. Thankfully for them I only found out two days later or they would have been on the receiving end my wrath! The fact remains that this clearly shows that there is a huge difference in the way this generation is being brought up and the way we parents were brought up. Never would I have been allowed to get away with not greeting the adults /parents under who's roof I had just slept! Never! It is not even worth thinking about what would have happened if I had lit up a joint, one would never contemplate such blatant disrespect. My own kids (teens) would not live to see their next birthday if they behave in such atrocious ways in someone else's home. Perhaps my visiting females knew no better...- Angry Bird

..............

It certainly isn't just the youth who have the problem.  There are even adults (yes even parents) addicted to prescription drugs which are only injectable and supposedly very restricted.  Sadly there are some immoral and greedy pharmacists who are breaking the law and aiding and abetting addicts; and emergency rooms who unwittingly giving out the drug to people who put on a convincing act so as to be prescribed or injected with the drugs.
VERY CONCERNED

..........

Yes smoking dagga, drugs, alcohol and codine based drugs are a serious problem here, not just among the youth, but among adults as well.  When one takes dagga for instance, then you will usually find they take codine based or other drugs or have an alcohol problem as well.  I see comments below about parents taking control and have to agree with this.  My family has suffered the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse for years.   As a result I have taught my children to steer clear of night clubs, house parties and people with bad morals.  Don’t be fooled, bad character corrupts good morals and you become like the company you keep is what I tell them.  One of my children is 18 does not go to night clubs, house parties etc for her entertainment, is a virgin and steers clear of alcohol drugs etc.  She is involved with helping in community clean up’s, sport at a competitive level and is focused on what she wants do after school.   She is a blessing to us, and I am so glad that when those turbulent moments came as a teenager, as they will, my husband took control and did not allow her to do as she pleased.  As someone said below – it starts at home.  It is not cool to take drugs, it may seem fun when you are young, but you grow into an adult soon enough and find that addictions will rob you of your health, wreck your relationships and steal your opportunities.

…………..

My 17 year old son was experimenting with alcohol, drugs and sex in  2002/2003. It took us by surprise and nearly broke my heart. He had a good catholic upbringing, went to a good private school and didn’t have a lot of money to spend.  He was trading sex for drugs! This was taking place at a night club in Newlands and at Bowling Alley in Borrowdale. A few of us parents tried to patrol these areas. It was a real wake up call. After hauling him out of some terrible house in the suburbs early one morning , he agreed to counselling. We sent him to UK, aged 18, on a one way ticket to get him away from the bad influence. Fortunately he did not sink, and is now a father of 2 little boys. It would appear that the situation has not changed. Parent

………..

yes you have a huge problem with drugs and not just with the youngsters.  I am talking from firsthand experience.  My daughter was hooked on cocaine, my friends all take cocaine and Ecstasy.  You will be surprised at how many people I know who you would never suspect, take hard drugs.

…………….

YES.. Unfortunately it’s a global problem that we in Zim aren’t going to escape. In first world countries, the  authorities don’t worry too much about the addicts .. They target the drug dealers. !!!  I have some experience here in Zim with Heroine addicts and dealers & It is possible thru elaborate schemes and deceptions to catch these dealers & then after a day or two they are out of jail, back on the street …  their files go missing & there is absolutely no recourse.!!!

 We will never be able to stop or minimise the supply of drugs while our legal system allows it to carry on.! ( We need the contacts who dealt with the puppy seller to help keep these dealers locked up ! )

 To the concerned parent who believes this has to start at home …. Yes of course we need to educate our children and take responsibility , however in my experience most of these addicts come from wonderful homes even religious homes with extremely concerned parents just like you ! So sadly , none one of our children are immune !

There are NO Rehabilitation Centres or effective Educational Programmes here in Zimbabwe & many people cannot afford to send their loved ones to Rehabs outside the country. It is also considered a “ Rich Man’s ” problem, so to find funding for such institutions & programmes is extremely difficult when we face so many other social problems here in Zimbabwe !

What we need is a Private Donor or Investors who will be generous enough to fund a Drug & Rehab educational programme  {for schools } I believe that such people are out there !!!  The more we talk about it the more likely we are to find the funding & the necessary resources !!!  POP

Hi All, I have had lots of response to the email about drugs in Zimbabwe and give a few more comments below – any more will be posted on our web site

Please note that I cannot analyse every response in detail but I try not to send out anything that is defamatory or will place people in jeopardy. Please take care in what you state in your comments and give a Nom de Plume. The bottom line seems to be that we do have a major drug problem that is mostly

“Kept Behind Closed Doors”  Regards Mike G. http://www.bambazonke.co.zw/forums.html

.......

As a mother of three 21 ,20 &19 year old children I know there is a problem. Maybe if the parents popped into said clubs they would see what was going on. I believe kids hang around with their own kind. Manage your childrens friends more, spend time with them and their friends. This problem is not going to improve. Also on the flip side you cannot live your kids lives. I have a nephew who is addicted to CAT in Sa. He is destroying his family. Also stats show addiction and abuse in a family is often repeated by children. MOMMY WITH TATTOOS

...............

Statistics indicate that one third of the world’s population will develop schizophrenia, an incurable disease, from dagga smoking.  Which third do you fit into??? Think on this before you take your first puff!!! Caregiver

...................

Guys, the problem is not from the drug lords, or the peer pressure or any other place. The problems start from home, where we show our kids how to drink alcohol irresponsibly. Alcohol is a drug end of story, and children learn what they live. The buck starts at home, with the parents, showing our kids the responsible way to live. Drive past any Watering hole or a bottle store for that matter on Friday or Saturday evenings, and see how "the parents" of these kids are drinking copious amounts, then driving home drunk. We give them licence by our actions. There are programs in schools being run, speaking to kids about these dangers, but what do you expect. Parents are the role models. Is the example you are setting your kids the correct one? Sober Dad

..................

I asked my nephew who is an entertainer how bad the drug problem was in Harare and he said it was very bad. He acknowledged that the youth were smoking dagga but the worst cocaine users were the affluent adults in the 40 to 50 age group. If this is the case then what hope do our children have. Sadly dagga is considered a safe drug. I have been to parties where the majority of adults from 30 upwards were smoking it. This perception needs to be addressed and the dangers of dagga need to be made public – maybe schools should be visited and children spoken to. Frog

................

I do agree that there is a drug problem here. Yes it is prevalent among the youth of today but its use is also (sadly) largely common among the would be parenting generation. I am afraid there does not seem to be much for the youth to model themselves Upon. This last Valentine's Day my step-son and his friend both brought their Valentines home. I was shocked at the lack of respect, courtesy and manners of these girls the morning after, clearly shown by the fact that they sat on my veranda and lit up a joint of marawana. Thankfully for them I only found out two days later or they would have been on the receiving end my wrath! The fact remains that this clearly shows that there is a huge difference in the way this generation is being brought up and the way we parents were brought up. Never would I have been allowed to get away with not greeting the adults /parents under who's roof I had just slept! Never! It is not even worth thinking about what would have happened if I had lit up a joint, one would never contemplate such blatant disrespect. My own kids (teens) would not live to see their next birthday if they behave in such atrocious ways in someone else's home. Perhaps my visiting females knew no better...- Angry Bird

..............

It certainly isn't just the youth who have the problem.  There are even adults (yes even parents) addicted to prescription drugs which are only injectable and supposedly very restricted.  Sadly there are some immoral and greedy pharmacists who are breaking the law and aiding and abetting addicts; and emergency rooms who unwittingly giving out the drug to people who put on a convincing act so as to be prescribed or injected with the drugs.
VERY CONCERNED

..........

Yes smoking dagga, drugs, alcohol and codine based drugs are a serious problem here, not just among the youth, but among adults as well.  When one takes dagga for instance, then you will usually find they take codine based or other drugs or have an alcohol problem as well.  I see comments below about parents taking control and have to agree with this.  My family has suffered the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse for years.   As a result I have taught my children to steer clear of night clubs, house parties and people with bad morals.  Don’t be fooled, bad character corrupts good morals and you become like the company you keep is what I tell them.  One of my children is 18 does not go to night clubs, house parties etc for her entertainment, is a virgin and steers clear of alcohol drugs etc.  She is involved with helping in community clean up’s, sport at a competitive level and is focused on what she wants do after school.   She is a blessing to us, and I am so glad that when those turbulent moments came as a teenager, as they will, my husband took control and did not allow her to do as she pleased.  As someone said below – it starts at home.  It is not cool to take drugs, it may seem fun when you are young, but you grow into an adult soon enough and find that addictions will rob you of your health, wreck your relationships and steal your opportunities.

…………..

My 17 year old son was experimenting with alcohol, drugs and sex in  2002/2003. It took us by surprise and nearly broke my heart. He had a good catholic upbringing, went to a good private school and didn’t have a lot of money to spend.  He was trading sex for drugs! This was taking place at a night club in Newlands and at Bowling Alley in Borrowdale. A few of us parents tried to patrol these areas. It was a real wake up call. After hauling him out of some terrible house in the suburbs early one morning , he agreed to counselling. We sent him to UK, aged 18, on a one way ticket to get him away from the bad influence. Fortunately he did not sink, and is now a father of 2 little boys. It would appear that the situation has not changed. Parent

………..

yes you have a huge problem with drugs and not just with the youngsters.  I am talking from firsthand experience.  My daughter was hooked on cocaine, my friends all take cocaine and Ecstasy.  You will be surprised at how many people I know who you would never suspect, take hard drugs.

…………….

YES.. Unfortunately it’s a global problem that we in Zim aren’t going to escape. In first world countries, the  authorities don’t worry too much about the addicts .. They target the drug dealers. !!!  I have some experience here in Zim with Heroine addicts and dealers & It is possible thru elaborate schemes and deceptions to catch these dealers & then after a day or two they are out of jail, back on the street …  their files go missing & there is absolutely no recourse.!!!

 We will never be able to stop or minimise the supply of drugs while our legal system allows it to carry on.! ( We need the contacts who dealt with the puppy seller to help keep these dealers locked up ! )

 To the concerned parent who believes this has to start at home …. Yes of course we need to educate our children and take responsibility , however in my experience most of these addicts come from wonderful homes even religious homes with extremely concerned parents just like you ! So sadly , none one of our children are immune !

There are NO Rehabilitation Centres or effective Educational Programmes here in Zimbabwe & many people cannot afford to send their loved ones to Rehabs outside the country. It is also considered a “ Rich Man’s ” problem, so to find funding for such institutions & programmes is extremely difficult when we face so many other social problems here in Zimbabwe !

What we need is a Private Donor or Investors who will be generous enough to fund a Drug & Rehab educational programme  {for schools } I believe that such people are out there !!!  The more we talk about it the more likely we are to find the funding & the necessary resources !!!  POP

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