“Some women are soaking cannabis leaves in buckets of water and using the juice in their cakes. They then sell these cakes to children at school gates and unknowingly the consumers become addicted,” said Mukazhi at the launch of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Chitungwiza.
Mukazhi said cannabis was one of the most abused drugs in the country.
“Seventy-five percent of cannabis is being smuggled into Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries, especially Malawi. Since the introduction of multi-currency, Zimbabwe has become both a transit country and consumer of hard drugs,” he said.
Mukazhi said the drug barons were targeting young women for recruitment.
“Because of a lot of money is generated in the illicit business, these drug barons throw money at young women to encourage them to work in India or China. When they get there, they are made to transport drugs such as cocaine and heroin,” he said.
According to the UN office on Drugs and Crime, nearly 210 million people worldwide are using illegal drugs.
Speaking at the same occasion, guest of honour and Chitungwiza Central Hospital, CEO, Obadiah Moyo, said recent studies showed a link between cannabis abuse and an increase in schizophrenia.
“Men who use cannabis may end up infertile since studies have also shown that prolonged use of cannabis in men reduces the testosterone levels, the size of the testes and the sperm count.”
Moyo said the problem of medical drug abuse was also prevalent among medical practitioners.
Post published in: News