Zim Now Writer
The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences - in partnership with Zimbabwe College of Pathology and FaStep Zimbabwe and its partners - is set to launch the Abused Substances Diagnostics and Management project whose objective is to increase access to services screening to combat drugs and alcohol abuse in the country to 100 percent within a 10-year period.
In a statement, University of Zimbabwe said the project is integrated into the general medical system with the aim of improving the health of the Zimbabwe.
“The partners and stakeholders on the ASDM Project seek to provide all Zimbabweans with a comprehensive, coordinated, quality program that addresses the impact of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse.
“There is an increasing problem of drugs and alcohol abuse especially among young people in Zimbabwe. Substance abuse is a global challenge with detrimental affects on health, wealth and security of nations (UNODC. 2010),” reads the statement from the institution of higher learning.
The methodology of the ASDM Project shall be phased into stages namely awareness and education programmes, training of peer educators, rapid DOA testing, counselling and referral services and dissemination of practices.
According to the statement, the project will provide decision-makers with sufficient information on the driving factors, affected population sub-groups, demographics, types of drugs, current service delivery levels, current screening mechanisms, supply and demand aspects and best practices to mitigate alcohol and drug abuse in Zimbabwe.
It will help the decision-makers with sufficient information and reliable statistics necessary to make informed judgement regarding the performance of the ASDM Project.
In Zimbabwe, drug abuse has been associated with crime, high accident rates, interpersonal violence, risky sexual behaviour (accompanied by increased risk of HIV acquisition and STIs incidences), negative health of users, negative psychological impacts on families and negative socio-economic impacts on their communities.
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