By CHUSA SICHONE –
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has appealed to drug addicts who want to be weaned off from the habit to seek counseling.
The commission assured drug abusers seeking reformation that they would not be prosecuted once they sought help from DEC.
DEC community sensitisation programme officer Hope Shiwala and clinician Brian Mweemba made the appeal to Public Service Vehicle drivers, conductors and the general public during sensitisation
programmes in Lusaka recently.
Ms Shiwala said DEC was not only involved in prosecuting drug abusers, but that it also offered counseling services to abusers who wanted to stop the habit.
Ms Shiwala said her department was particularly concerned about sensitising the public on the dangers of drug abuse to one’s health.
She cited cannabis as one such commonly abused drug whose effects included reduction in sperm count, has over 50 cancer causing chemicals and significantly lessening lung functions thereby
putting the abuser at risk of contracting respiratory infections.
“What we are saying is, stop abusing cannabis because it is very bad for your health. For your own information, as Drug Enforcement we assist those people who want to stop abusing drugs by counseling
them,” she said.
Ms Shiwala observed that cannabis mainly affected the Central Nervous System, altered moods, coordination, memory and self-perception because of the Tetra Hydro Cannabinol which changed several transmitter systems in the brain hence being an illegal drug in the country.
Mr Mweemba focused on other drugs such as Benylin and Valium, which he said, should not be used if not prescribed by doctors as over dosage equally posed great risks to one’s brain, which he described as the body’s engine.
“If you have a problem with regards to the drugs you are abusing, don’t be scared, you can come to our offices at Drug Enforcement, we won’t arrest you, it is our job to help you reform and once we help
you, you will also help us by providing counsel to those who are in need,” he said.
DEC provides drug counseling services through its National Education Campaign Division offices and networks with health institutions like Chainama Hospital, provincial general hospitals and other organisations in the provision of drug dependence treatment.