Drug use on the increase in Salima

Police in Salima have expressed concern over the increased cases of smoking and drug abuse among the youth.

Salima Police Station officer-in-charge James Bwela said in an interview the situation puts the lives of the youth at risk.

Bwela made the remarks when The Nation wanted to find out what his office is doing to curb teen prostitution in the district, particularly at Salima Boma.

He said drug use even involves young females, a practice that puts them at risk of several health disorders, including cervical cancer, reduced fertility, stillbirths and heart disease, according to experts.

Bwela said being a transit district for most illicit drugs in the country, Salima was bound to face such challenges.

Said Bwela: “But I can assure you that we will soon control the situation with the project we launched a few days ago. The project specifically aims to deal with drug use in Salima having noted that many youths like smoking and or drinking.”

World Health Organisation (WHO), in its latest report on African Tobacco Situational Analysis (Atsa), ranks Malawian youth third among 12 African countries seriously faced with problems of alcohol and drug abuse.

Zambia leads in the Atsa  report  with 25.6 percent while Malawi is said to be at 18.4 in smoking illicit drugs for both sexes.

Girls make up 15 percent of drug users in Malawi, according to the report.