By Own Correspondent

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has implored Young Workers to champion anti-drugs and substance abuses at workplaces.

Statistics compiled in 2021 by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network revealed that 60 per cent of psychiatric admissions were due to drug abuse. Eighty per cent of these were people aged 16 to 25, including schoolgirls.

As it stands, 60 percent of patients admitted to mental institutions suffer due to drug and substance abuse-related problems.

Speaking to Young Workers during a mental health awareness workshop, ZCTU head of Legal, Gender and Education department, Fiona Magaya said it was time the age group took matters of drug abuse seriously.

“Drug abuse among Zimbabwean youth has increased significantly in recent years with continued reports of many struggling with addiction. We encourage continued collaboration between labour, authorities, civil society and faith-based organisations to address this challenge mainly by addressing social determinants of drug and substance abuse such as poverty, unemployment and other underlying factors contributing to drug abuse,” she said.

In her presentation, Magaya defined mental health and gave examples of mental wellness. The types of mental disorders for instance anxiety disorders were explored.

She said drug abuse greatly impacts productivity and may add pressure and responsibility to your co-workers if they are expected to cover your responsibilities and poor performance at work may also lead to termination.