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DOWN AND OUT . . . Youths are stepping into dangerous territory when they take prescription drugs for recreational purposes

Problem Masawu Lifestyle Writer
EXIT expensive whisky which had become the preserve of the well-heeled, enter cheap and highly potent spirits from neighbouring countries whose entry into the country is shrouded in secrecy owing to strict regulations at ports of entry.
If it’s not the spirits, cough mixture like Histalix, better known as Bronco, is being downed with reckless abandon as youths with low disposable incomes battle to take themselves to the Promised Land, beer wise.

It is not unusual to find people sweating profusely while sleeping soundly on pavements owing to the potency of either cough mixtures or illicit brews like Zed and Lawidzani. What, however, betrays them are disused containers of the banned substances which they fail to conceal after the damage has been done.

Chief Mutambara from Chimanimani near the Mozambican border said youths were smuggling the Zed into Zimbabwe through several unauthorised points in the area.

“We are facing a big problem here. Some of the youths collapse after taking Zed while others engage in anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Empty bottles of cough syrups popularly known as “Bronco” are now an eyesore at street corners in some ghettos.

One youth who confessed to taking the cough syrup said it was different from taking drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines.
“It is easy to access Bronco because all you have to do is get a prescription from a doctor. This means there are less chances of taking an overdose. You don’t need to hide from anyone when taking Bronco like people who smoke mbanje.

“After taking Bronco it makes me feel happy and energised, but if I go for a day without taking it, I go crazy and the craving becomes so strong to the extent that I sweat profusely until I get the drug,” he said.

Histalix syrup is not only the drug being abused in the streets; drugs such as Opioids which are prescribed for pain relief and Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants which are prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems are common in the ghettoes. This is being done with the hope of getting high. A man only identified as Jeremiah said he was addicted to drugs because he always wanted to get tipsy.

“It all started as I was living in the streets. I couldn’t afford a decent meal so in order to beat the hunger I would sniff cleaning fluids, fingernail polish, glue, furniture polish or spray paints and just about anything,” he said.

According to medical practitioner Mlungisi Ndebele the drugs are easily absorbed into the blood stream giving an almost instant reaction.
The problem has been worsened by some pharmacies which are allegedly not asking for doctors’ prescriptions.

Some addicts have said they had an unholy alliance with pharmacies who supply them with the drugs.
“It is a circle whereby we connive with pharmacy staff to supply the drugs and we pay them. In most cases we give them as little as US$5,” explained Jeremiah.

According to a book called “Physicians Desk Reference”, taking medicines without the doctor’s supervision and overdose may lead to addiction.

“Drug addiction is characterised by compulsive use for non-medical purposes and continued use despite harm or risk of harm,” notes the book.

The book also says that “lack of control and obsession with the drug develops overtime”.
Dr Ndebele urged people to desist from the practice as it was detrimental to their health.

“People step into dangerous territory when they take medicines for the wrong reasons, take liberties with dosages, use products meant for someone or take the drug in a wrong way. For example, some pills have to be swallowed whole so that the active ingredients are released into the system slowly.

“Abusers often disrupt the process by crushing or chewing the pills, by crushing and sniffing them, or by dissolving them in water and injecting them. The result may be a high but it could also be a first step towards addiction and can be lethal. Some people may develop physical dependency on the products,” said Dr Ndebele.

He said the abuse of drugs as stimulants can bring heart failure or seizures. He said other products can lower a person’s breathing rate. He said other medicines can have a harmful effect if mixed with certain drugs or alcohol.

Social commentators blamed the breakdown in the family institutions as the main cause of drug abuse.
Sociology lecturer Pardon Taodzera said relying on drugs was a symptom of frustration.

“The problem of medicines being turned into drugs is just the tip of an iceberg of deep-rooted social problems. When youths turn to drugs it’s a sign that something is wrong within our society. For example, poor youths who are always high on Histalix are trying to escape from the harsh reality of life. Many of the people are unemployed and tend to find comfort using unorthodox means.

“If you ask those abusing drugs you will find that they will be suffering in silence and they turn to drug abuse. It is difficult for the police to arrest the abusers because they are using legal substances, which are sold openly in the country,” he said.