Story by Wellington Makonese
THE festive mood is already taking shape at Mupandawana Growth Point in Gutu as residents shop, socialise, and usher in Christmas celebrations.
As excitement builds, concerns over excessive alcohol and substance abuse have also come to the fore.
“Christmas is a good time, but people need to control how much they drink because accidents usually happen,” a resident said.
We are happy to celebrate, but awareness like this helps especially the youth to avoid drugs,” a community member said.
“The roadshow is important because some people forget the dangers when they are enjoying,” residents said.
To curb rising cases of intoxication, the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse has taken its awareness campaign directly to the community through a roadshow and roadblock messaging.
“We are encouraging citizens to celebrate responsibly, avoid drug and alcohol abuse, and protect lives during this festive season. As you saw, we have breathalysers, so if one is found intoxicated, then we hand them over to the authorities for further steps. We have gone a step further to identify rehabilitation centers where we will then assist those who require services,” Acting Chief Director of Social Development and Disability Affairs, Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Tawanda Zimhunga said.
The awareness drive is part of a broader national strategy to tackle the rising incidence of drug and substance abuse, which has been flagged as a growing public health challenge in both urban and rural communities.
