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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
INGUTSHENI Central Hospital in Bulawayo has detained 46 people among them pupils and teenagers since July for abusing drugs. The hospital chief executive officer, Dr Naboth Chaibva, said as a result of rampant drug abuse, parents must monitor their children’s behaviour. He said parents should desist from letting their children go for sleepovers as drug abuse is prevalent at events held during those times.

Dr Chaibva said since the beginning of July, they had attended to 46 patients with drug abuse-related ailments, six of them teenagers. “At the present moment although we’ve young people with substance induced psychosis, we don’t have any statistics that link them to the Vuzu parties and some of them are young adults, not teenagers. Currently we have 46 clients as from July 1, 2015, of these three are women, 43 males, six of whom are teenagers aged between 14 and 19,” he said.

“They’re usually brought in because of behavioural problems for example verbal and physical aggression, rowdy behaviour, vandalism, poor personal hygiene, criminal activity etc.” He especially expressed worry about children, saying parents should take note of changes in their children’s behaviour.

Dr Chaibva said the institution had partnered the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to educate pupils against substance abuse as it can lead to permanent mental illness. He said some of the risks facing children included becoming school drop outs, affecting their future earning capacity hence there is long term dependence on parents and lack of ability to contribute to the country’s productivity.

“Their treatment, care and support is also a drain on the taxpayer. Because the teenagers will be intoxicated, they neglect to take precautions and increase their chances of getting and spreading infections such as sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. They tend to display a lack of respect for authority for example teachers, parents, religious leaders, guardian etc,” Dr Chaibva said.

“They also have mental disorders such as drug-induced psychosis, depression and may also become suicidal”. Ingutsheni is the largest referral institution for patients suffering from psychological or mental health disorders in the southern region.