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Mozambican government continues to fight against drugs, considering it imperative to involve young people in the country’s awareness campaigns.
The UN, through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), focuses its international drug prevention campaign on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, celebrated worldwide on June 26.
The date was defined by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987, implementing the recommendation of the International Conference on Illicit Drug Abuse and Trafficking, held on June 26, 1987, at which time the General Multidisciplinary Plan on Future Activities to Combat Drug Abuse was approved.
Increase of consumption in Nampula
In Mozambique, cannabis sativa, commonly known as suruma (weed), is one of the most commonly consumed drugs, often taken together with excessive alcohol mainly in the northern province of Nampula, mostly by young people and adolescents still in school.
Since 2014, more than 3,000 patients have presented abusive consumption of alcohol at psychiatry and mental health services, and 79 people have been detained by traffic police for consumption of drugs in Nampula.
The situation is also worrying young people, who point to unemployment as one of the consequences of the increase in consumption. The government is equally concerned, fearing that many young people are getting lost in drugs, and in response has launched awareness campaigns to address the phenomenon.
A citizen identified only as Domingos claims to be unemployed and confessed to DW-Africa to being a consumer of alcohol. But for Domingos, who knows many other people who also consume alcohol, unemployment may not be the main cause.
“There are others who drink because they do not have a job and some simply because they enjoy alcohol. Others do not want to study, but it’s true that finding a job is difficult,” he says.
Alcohol consumption also increases
In fact, experts say the consumption of alcohol in Nampula “has exceeded the limits” in recent years, citing the consumption in schools as an example. But some students take drugs and drink alcohol as well, tenth grade student Isaac António at Nampula High School says.
“There are even students who drink during class. For example, many of my fellow students were drinking on Monday [on independence day], and invited me to do the same. They called me names for refusing to consume alcohol,” he says.
Government is concerned
Authorities admit that the consumption of alcohol and drugs in Nampula is worrying. According to Germano Joaquim, director of the Provincial Office of Drug Enforcement, 3,362 citizens have been treated since 2014 for mental and behavioral disorders caused by the consumption of alcohol and drugs.
“In order to reduce the tendency of young people to embark on this path, we recommend that parents and caregivers cooperate to prevent students falling into the world of drugs, and that they do not take alcoholic drinks to school. We are also worried that young people who have finished their education are now consuming drugs and alcohol,” he said.
Nampula police spokesman Zacarias Nacute says excessive alcohol consumption is a factor in various criminal activities right across the country’s most populous province.
“Alcohol is one of the catalysts of negative situations in the province, because many of these cases are registered during the night. Police have come to the conclusion that the perpetrators were under the influence of alcohol, in order perhaps to work up the courage to commit the acts,” he said.
Balance in 2017
Mozambican government officials have seized 7.6 million kilos of cannabis and 21,000 kilograms of cocaine during the past year, numbers that justify “greater attention to preventing and combating drug trafficking” Mozambican government spokeswoman Ana Comona said recently after a Council of Ministers meeting in Maputo.
Of the amount of cannabis seized, 73% came from the Zambezia province of central Mozambique, while cocaine was seized mainly at Maputo International Airport, considered one of the main transit points for drug trafficking in the country. The 21 to 30 age group is cited in the report as the one that consumes most drugs.
Ana Comona said that the executive would continue to take action to combat drugs, considering it imperative that young people be involved in awareness campaigns. “We will strengthen the Government’s capacity and surveillance measures, both in the prevention component and in the combative component,” she said.
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