Increased illicit substance use among Zimbabwean adolescents and youths during the COVID-19 era : an impending public health disaster

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Authors

Mukwenha, Solomon
Murewanhema, Grant
Madziva, Roda
Dzinamarira, Tafadzwa
Herrera, Helena
Musuka, Godfrey

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Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

Zimbabwe's illicit substance use problem has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular concern has been the upward trend in drug/substance use among adolescents and youths. Commonly used substances in Zimbabwe include glue, bronclee, mangemba, cane sprit, marijuana, codeine and methamphetamine (crystal meth). In this letter, we discuss aggravated substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe, and how it is a serious impending public health disaster.

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Keywords

Adolescents, COVID-19 pandemic, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Public health disaster, Substance abuse, Youth, Zimbabwe

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Citation

Mukwenha, S., Murewanhema, G., Madziva, R. et al. 2022, 'Increased illicit substance use among Zimbabwean adolescents and youths during the COVID-19 era: an impending public health disaster', Addiction, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 1177-1178, doi: 10.1111/add.15729, NYP.