Vic Falls 8-year-old in drug rehab

Officials have confirmed that an eight-year-old child is among four patients receiving treatment at the newly established Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The facility, located at Chinotimba Clinic, became operational following a ZWG$1.8 million government contribution. Videos of minors drinking alcohol during the 2024 festive season led to a public outcry, with the police moving in to caution parents against negligence. 

In a recent video that went viral on social media, a traditional court aide is seen saying that “Mwenewebhawa” the owner of the bar would be arrested if minors were found on the premises, indicating the extent of the problem.

Zimbabwe faces a significant drug abuse crisis, with children exposed to various substances.

This is part of a regional and global challenge, with countries like Malaysia reporting 135,000 recorded drug addicts as of June 2025, while a 2024 survey in Japan found 1.8% of junior high school students (approx. 1 in 55) abused non-prescription drugs like cough medicine to “seek excitement or alter mood.”

In 2025 Q1, 285 under-21s were reported for drug abuse in Hong Kong with 128 of them

A 2025 news article estimates 15% of India’s population may be drug dependent. Globally an estimated 243 million people used cannabis in 2023.