Access to information has been identified as key to ending drug abuse and overdose as it brings awareness to the dangers associated with excessive and misuse uptake of drugs.
In a statement to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) said there is a need for the government and developmental partners to share with communities the information about drug and substance overdose while at the same time sending a message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
“Although there is no official data on drug-induced deaths in Zimbabwe, anecdotal evidence points to a lot of fatalities due to overdose as people who use and inject drugs would want to stay high and take more drugs than their bodies could manage,’ the statements reads.
The International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind
All drugs, including alcohol, can cause an overdose and that is when a person has more of a drug, or a combination of drugs than their body could manage.
Opioids and stimulants are the most common group of drugs that cause drug-induced deaths. Opioids include commonly prescribed medications such as oxycodone and codeine, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. A stimulant overdose can occur from drugs like methamphetamine (Crystal Meth).
“Although there is no official data on drug-induced deaths in Zimbabwe, anecdotal evidence points to a lot of fatalities due to overdose as people who use and inject drugs would want to stay high and take more drugs than their body could manage,” ZCLDN stated.
As part of commemorating the day, ZCLDN further called for the provision of opportunities for people to publicly mourn their loved ones who could have died of an overdose in a safe environment without feeling guilt or shame.
ZCLDN has been pushing for the enactment and implementation of the national drug policy, as well as the amendment of existing legal frameworks such as the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 (57) and the Dangerous Drugs Act Chapter 15 which are outdated. As such, we
