AT least 90% patients at Ingutsheni Central Hospital suffer from drug and substance abuse-induced mental conditions, authorities at the psychiatric hospital in Bulawayo have said.
Reports indicate that a significant number of new admissions at Ingutsheni are victims of alcohol, drug and substance abuse.
Ingutsheni Hospital representative Davison Samanyanga urged youths to shun drugs and other illegal intoxicating substances to avoid addiction and mental illnesses.
He made the remarks during a drug and substance abuse campaign held in the city on Saturday.
“If you look at our admitting ward, you will see that there are almost 100 to 150 persons who are staying there and 90% of those are drug-related cases, hence this shows the magnitude of the problem of drug and substance abuse. The treatment of those affected, of those addicted to drugs and substances is not an easy journey,” Samanyanga said.
“In the treatment of drug and substance abuse, there are so many players who take part. We have psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and doctors. As I have mentioned, it is not an easy journey.”
Samanyanga said they encouraged early detection and treatment.
“For rehabilitation, we are saying people deserve a chance,” he said.
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“After being seen by all those professionals, they really need a chance. They need to be equipped and imparted with the correct skills so that when they come back to the community, they know how to live, how to conquer those challenges which they might have faced, which might have led them into drugs.
“For the youth out there, don’t throw away your life for the sake of a few hours of fun.”
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube bemoaned drug abuse among the youth.
