Drugs – NEWSSPACE

Zim sets up new drug and substance elimination agency

**Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere**

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

The government has approved the setting up of a Security Service and specialized Drug and Substance Elimination Agency/National Drug Agency, as the country is currently battling with drug and substance use especially amongst the youths.

Briefing the media following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the agency will be responsible for the enforcement of laws that deal with drug and substance trafficking, use and abuse as well as coordinating efforts of other support services.

He also revealed that the “prevalence of drug and substance abuse has become a global issue and Zimbabwe has not been spared.

“Drug and Substance Abuse has become a threat to economic development, social harmony, health and wellbeing, public order and security.

“Cabinet has thus approved the Principles for the enactment of the Zimbabwe Drug and Substance Agency Bill, 2024 that paves way for the establishment of an additional Security Service and specialized Drug and Substance Elimination Agency/National Drug Agency.

“The Agency will be responsible for the enforcement of laws that deal with drug and substance trafficking, use and abuse as well as coordinating efforts of other support services,” said Minister Muswere.

Minister Muswere also reported that government continues to intensify its response against drug and substance abuse across the country.

“Since January 2024, about 6 148 people were arrested, 677 were suppliers and 5 471 were end-users.

“A total of 106 illegal drug and substance trading bases were identified, raided and destroyed in Harare, Shamva, Chinhoyi, Bindura, Bulawayo and Mutare. “Fifty-one liquor outlets were charged for operating without the correct licenses and while 268 operators were also arrested for violating license conditions, 17 outlets had their licenses cancelled for violating operating conditions.

“A total of 311 countrywide inspections on medicine outlets were conducted and 62 lines of medicines were confiscated.

“Awareness campaigns on drug and substance abuse are being accelerated targeting adults, youths and children.

“Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024-2030 that outlines a comprehensive strategic approach to address the escalating threat of drug and substance abuse to public health, economic growth, national security, and social stability in Zimbabwe,” added Minister Muswere.

He also reported that the decentralization of the Drug and Narcotics Department will be expedited as cabinet also approved the review and updating of fine structure of the organization and directed that suppliers must be prosecuted through the courts and not through spot fines.

“Establishment of outpatient Psychosocial Support Centers and parenting groups countrywide as well as the purchase of psychotropic medicines and food provisions for rehabilitation centers will be expedited.”

It was also reported that empowering the youths remains critical hence the Youth Service training programme will start in June 2024 at Dadaya and Vumba Training Centres.

“In addition, as a key measure to reduce indulgence, ensuring financial inclusivity is being heightened and a total of USD20 000 has been loaned to youths across the country for income generating projects through the Empower Bank.”

Bluetoothing floods the ghetto

**Tendai Phillip Daka, Mubatirapamwe Programmes Manager**

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA recently in Chinhoyi

While the country has been praised for successful HIV interventions, a scourge is threatening to derail such efforts as people looking for a quick way to get intoxicated, have resorted to injecting themselves with blood from other drug users.

Known as bluetoothing or flash-blooding, the dangerous practice which according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information is when “blood is withdrawn from one individual who has recently injected a drug and directly injected intravenously unto another person.”

While this practice was said to have been more common in neighbouring South Africa, a recent media workshop organised by the National Aids Council (NAC) heard that our own people have joined the bandwagon, with the trend now in most ghettos.

Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, Tendai Phillip Daka, Programmes Manager at Mubatirapamwe, revealed that it was sad that while the country was striving towards epidemic control, practices like bluetoothing are hampering efforts being made.

“Now we have a practice of drug use which is common in South Africa and it is characterized by the use of nyaope drug which is a mixture of heroin, marijuana, ARVs (anti retrovirals) and rat poison.

“So this bluetoothing came about because some people will be facing difficulties to buy drugs so from our understanding, they draw blood from someone who would have injected themselves with drugs.

“It can even be from someone who would have taken crystal meth, so they draw blood from that person so as to also get intoxicated.

“Sadly some people are now seeing it as a business avenue because when they inject the drugs, they then withdraw their blood and package into small plastics or sachets and sell,” revealed Daka.

He revealed that several parents have revealed to them that they are finding sachets of blood in their children’s rooms.

“What we are really not sure yet about is how they (drug users) preserve the blood, but many parents have been revealing seeing this.

“Some parents reveal finding sachets with strong smells and even syringes in their children’s rooms.

“Also known as hotspoting, this practice is increasing the spread of diseases through these transfusions, leading to the transmission of diseases like hepatitis B, C as well as HIV.

“So while efforts are being made to fight HIV, we need to have other interventions to help with the scourge of drug use, failure of which, will lead to losing the HIV fight,” added Daka.

In a separate interview with this reporter, a drug activist who preferred anonymity said sadly bluetoothing has led to increasing cases of new HIV infections and hepatitis B, because of the sharing of needles.

“The first person to inject themselves could be HIV negative but then from the time the syringe gets to be used by the last person, who knows. Maybe someone in between could be HIV positive.

“The worst scenario is if the first person who injects themselves with drugs is HIV positive, then all the other users get the blood from him or her.

“In Zimbabwe it seems the measures to contain this are really difficult because the only thing that people can do is go for an HIV test or if you say someone should take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), but then it (PrEP) will only block HIV, it doesn’t stop other infections or complications.

“So now there is something called Harm Reduction which has a programme called Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP), but from last I checked, that programme has not yet started here in Zimbabwe.

“This is a programme whereby people who inject drugs will be coming in to get clean equipment to use, like needles, syringes, alcohol swabs and other items, so there is a whole bunch of things provided in NSP,” added the source.

The source further added, “then there are also needle disposal sites so that people don’t just get rid of their needles or syringes willy nilly.”

While a total of 1,3 million people are living with HIV in Zimbabwe, it was revealed that the country is recording a decline in the prevalence and incidence owing to several interventions.

However one hopes that the emergence of practices like bluetoothing, will not hamper the successes which the country is registering in fighting HIV.

Spare a thought for women who use drugs

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

There is need to spare a thought for women who use drugs in Africa as they are disproportionately affected by several issues of society which leaves them more vulnerable, Tania Marumbwa, activist for the Community of People who Use Drugs in Zimbabwe has said.

Marumbwa revealed this during the recently International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) at the launch of the Harare Declaration by and for African Women who Use Drugs.

She said the obtaining situation was that African women who use drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience inequality, violence, stigma, high exposure to HIV and discrimination from all sections of the society.

“Even where laws that protect them exist, the level of implementation is yet to reach the

desired level to adequately protect women who use drugs.

“It is therefore crucial that all relevant

stakeholders, governments, civil society organisations, and inter-governmental organizations come together in a coordinated fashion to increase the protection of the rights of these women.

“Women who use drugs in Africa have less social, psychological and economic support and are

more likely to have experienced traumatic events, such as sexual and physical assault and abuse

as children and/or adults and to be currently exposed to intimate partner violence.

“The experience of trauma can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health problems and can also increase the risk of substance use,” said Marumbwa.

She added that women who use drugs are affected in several facets of life including having difficulties to find jobs, which they need so as to live better lives. Marumbwa further revealed that as a result of finding it difficult to get jobs, economic burdens are heavier for them.

“Vulnerability experienced by women who use drugs pushes them to susceptibility to HIV.

“Women who use drugs are likely to share their injecting paraphernalia with more people than

their male counterparts, trade sex for drugs and have difficulties in negotiating condom use

with sexual partners.

“Generally, women who trade sex are more likely to experience violence and many have limited power to engage in safe sex or safe injecting practices, placing them at an increased risk of infections.

“Women who use drugs face significant barriers to accessing both HIV and harm reduction services,” said Marumbwa.

Marumbwa however said not all hope is lost, as they made a clarion call to African governments and all stakeholders for women who use drugs to be protected.

Some of the recommendations include; “for women who have experienced or continue to experience intimate/ gender-based violence; trauma informed treatment are recommended.

“There is also a need to ensure high level collaboration between the health system, community systems and justice sector to address all sorts of violence against women who use drugs.

“Sexual Reproductive Health Rights services for women who use drugs should address their wide spectrum of needs. They include cervical cancer and sexually transmitted illness (STI) screening and treatment and contraception to avoid unwanted

pregnancy.

“Services for pregnant women should include gynecological/obstetric care and

medically assisted treatment (MAT) treatment in case of opioid dependence.

“Support for parenting, including skills development/mentoring is needed and address childcare provision concerns.

“Support women who use drugs in accessing harm reduction services in a manner that is stigma free and a way in which services are available and accessible to them.

“Efforts are required to counter stigma and discrimination faced by these women. A range of interventions should be made available including MAT, NSP, counseling among others.

“The growing number of incarcerated women who use drugs face unique challenges that prisons and jails aren’t equipped to address.

“This means that “incarceration should not ever be an option for women who use drugs unless for other reasons”.

“Incarceration also has devastating effects on the families of incarcerated women who use drugs as it leaves lasting negative impacts on their children, and causes financial instability for their families as in most cases they are the sole breadwinners,” she added.

Marumbwa added that there was need to deliver services to women who use drugs in environments that are gender responsive, welcoming, non-judgemental, supporting and physically and emotionally safe.

“Spaces that are inclusive and safe for trans women and sex workers are needed. Services should be holistic and comprehensive, promoting healthy connections to children, family members, significant others and the community.

“Ensure the participation of women who use drugs in policy and programme development.

“This will promote gender-responsive policies and programmes by introducing and expanding

services and policies that meet the needs of women who use drugs.

“The leadership of women who use drugs should be deliberately sought in PWUID led structures and in other structures created to meet the needs of PWUIDs.

“Deliberate attempts should be made to assist in empowering women who use drugs both

socially and economically.

“Women who use drugs led CSOs should be funded to create interventions that will adequately address the needs of women who use drugs.”

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450 bottles of illegal cough syrups confiscated at Old Trafford

Some of the confiscated bottles of cough syrups

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has confiscated 450 bottles of illegal cough syrups (BronCleer and Adco-Salterpyn) during a raid at a flat in Harare.
The raid which was conducted on Wednesday at Old Trafford flats located at 13 Edmond Avenue in Belvedere, Harare, followed a tip off.
MCAZ Director General Richard Rukwata said the significant seizure is part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to combat drug and substance abuse as well as the illegal distribution and misuse of pharmaceutical products within the country.
“During the operation, MCAZ Inspectors working with Officers from the CID Drugs and Narcotics, discovered and seized 350 bottles of BronCleer cough syrup and 100 bottles of Adco-Salterpyn syrup.
“The suspect present at the scene is currently cooperating with law enforcement agencies to assist with their investigations into this matter.
“BronCleer and Adco-Salterpyn Syrup are opioid containing cough syrups which are not registered in Zimbabwe. “Opioids are considered Dangerous Drugs and these cough syrups are being abused by opioid drug addicts.
“Its misuse poses serious health risks and can lead to various complications if not used under proper medical supervision,” revealed Rukwata.
Rukwata further said they remain committed to safeguarding public health by ensuring that only authorized and regulated medicines are available on the market.
“The authority will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend individuals involved in the illicit trade of such substances.
“MCAZ urges members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to the drug and substance abuse and distribution or sale of unregulated pharmaceutical products,” added Rukwata.
MCAZ recently revoked 6 permits for wholesale dealers and cancelled 4 person licences for drug peddling, as the on-going fight against drug and substance abuse is intensified.

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