Outcry Over Mandatory Registration Examination for Social Work Graduates

📅 Published: August 18, 2025

📰 Source: healthtimes

Curated by AllZimNews.com

Adolescents have a 37 percent rate of drug and substance use, while the working class has a 36 percent rate,”explained Mr.

Fabion Musoro, Mental Health Manager at the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC).

Musoro shared these insights with journalists during a media sensitization meeting on HIV reporting for community radio stations, organized by the National AIDS Council (NAC).

Zimbabwe’s National Drug Masterplan estimates that around 3 percent of the adult population—approximately 450,000 people—suffer from either drug or alcohol use disorders (WHO).

Alcohol and substance use disorders are among the top three concerns presented in mental health services across all ten provinces.

Data also indicates that over 40 percent of young people regularly consume alcohol, while 15 percent report regular cannabis use.

Alarmingly, substance use among young Zimbabweans often begins as early as age 12.

Commonly abused substances in the country include alcohol (from both licensed and unlicensed brews), tobacco, cannabis, and certain controlled medications, such as codeine-containing cough syrups and benzodiazepines.

Musoro highlighted the significant burden on men, noting that they constitute the majority of admissions to mental health facilities for substance-related issues. “Men, especially in the African context, are expected to internalize their challenges, leading to poor psychosocial lifestyles and coping mechanisms,” he stated. “Some mental health issues, like paranoid schizophrenia with narcissistic traits, are more common among men because of societal pressures. ”
He also pointed out that men often exhibit poorer health-seeking behaviors compared to women, with many turning to drugs and substances as a form of escape.

Substance abuse among the working class is a global issue, with many workers turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with stress, economic hardships, and job instability.

In developing nations, long working hours and economic strain can push workers towards substance use as a coping mechanism.

In more developed countries, workplace pressures and expectations of constant productivity also contribute to this trend.