Teachers in Livingstone have been urged to remain vigilant for students involved in substance misuse, as cases of drug abuse among young people continue to rise.
Speaking at a training workshop for teachers, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officer Reuben Zulu highlighted alarming trends in drug abuse among learners and called for increased vigilance and peer education initiatives in schools.
Mr Zulu revealed that some individuals are deliberately manipulating their friends into drug addiction.
"There are people intentionally driving their friends to madness and exploiting them for their own gain," he said.
One disturbing development he pointed out is that drug dealers are using mentally ill patients to obtain drugs from Livingstone's mental hospital.
"Some people are acquiring drugs from mental patients, while others are sending individuals with mental illness to collect drugs on their behalf," Mr Zulu explained.
To combat this, the DEC has implemented measures to monitor and curb drug abuse in schools.
Mr Zulu urged teachers to be proactive and report any suspicious behaviour among students to the authorities.
He reassured educators that the DEC does not arrest individuals who come forward seeking help with drug-related issues.
Mr Zulu warned about the increasing use of Nsuko, a powdered tobacco mixed with cannabis, which has become highly addictive compared to traditional tobacco products.
"The Nsuko available today is different from what was used in the past. This modern version can quickly lead to addiction," he cautioned.
He noted that several prescription and over-the-counter drugs are also being abused by students, including Berilyn with codeine, which induces extreme drowsiness.
"When children take these drugs, they become so sleepy that they could even fall asleep in court," Mr Zulu stated.
He explained that other commonly abused substances include mojo drink, which is being mixed with drugs in juice bottles at school. He said that Valium (Diazepam), known among students as "blue mash", is a sleeping tablet widely misused by learners.
He also mentioned Piriton BH5, an antihistamine misused for its sedative effects. Furthermore, he noted that low-grade cannabis is referred to as "cheese" among peers, while high-grade cannabis—containing higher THC levels—is more potent.
Mr Zulu also warned about the rising use of crystal methamphetamine and the dangerous practice known as "Bluetooth", where users inject drugs and share blood with others to pass on the effects.
According to Mr Zulu, some students have turned to unconventional substances to get high.
"Young people are smoking tea leaves, sniffing cleaning detergents, and inhaling powdered sweets such as Sweet Aid," he said.
He added that some even extract powder from fluorescent bulbs, unaware of the potential health hazards. He further cautioned the public about counterfeit money schemes being used to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
And Reach All Funding Raising Officer Priscallar Mwambo stated that collaborative efforts between government, educators, and community stakeholders are essential to turning the tide on this crisis.
"I am heartened to see the decisive measures taken by the DEC and local educators. Our funding is dedicated to supporting early intervention and prevention programmes that protect our youth from falling into the trap of drug addiction,” she said.
Ms Mwambo, who is also the Play Forward Programme officer, stressed the significance of empowering students.
"Peer education is one of our strongest tools against drug abuse," she said.
"When students are taught to look out for one another, we create a supportive environment where early signs of drug misuse can be identified and addressed promptly. Our peer-led initiatives aim to build resilience and awareness among young people." She said.
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