President Edgar Lungu has expressed concern at the increased alcohol and substance abuse by the youths in the country.
President Lungu says the vice has the potential to lead to dysfunctional homes and society if left unchecked.
He bemoaned that if the use of alcohol and substance abuse is not curbed it will negatively affect the country’s productivity.
“Alcohol and substance abuse remains a serious concern in our society. if left unchecked, it can lead to dysfunctional homes and society. Further, productivity in the nation suffers,” President Lungu said.
The Head of State revealed this when he addressed the fifth session of the twelfth national assembly on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles.
This is the fourth national address in a roll President Lungu has delivered to Parliament on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles since its introduction in 2017 under the new amended constitution.
However, President Lungu informed the House that the government is not sitting idle while the vice escalates.
President Lungu explained during the national address that the government is carrying out sensitizations, trainings and rehabilitation programmes across the country.
“To address this problem, government, together with various partners, has been implementing sensitisation, training and rehabilitation programmes across the country.”
He also disclosed that over 1 million individuals have been sensitized on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse since 2017.
Parliament also heard that government has trained 171 teachers under the peer education training programme in drug abuse.
“Since 2017, 1.7 million individuals and 1,075 organisations have been sensitised on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.
“In addition, government has trained 171 teachers under the peer education training programme in drug abuse.”
President Lungu highlighted that the trained teachers are also setting up anti-drug abuse clubs in their respective schools so as to fight the vice.
During his keynote address to the nation, President Lungu revealed that 2,802 addicts have benefited from the rehabilitation programmes.
President Lungu urged the youths to take advantage of the available services and seek help from government health facilities.
He appealed to families and the citizenry to join hands and support addicts who are struggling with alcohol and substance abuse.
“Our people, especially the youth, should know that help is available. Services to deal with alcohol and substance abuse are available and accessible in most government health facilities.
“All it requires is the resolve and support of the family to do the right thing. Let us all hold hands and help our brothers and sisters affected by this problem.”
And President Lungu has saluted the church and civil society for providing rehabilitation services to drug addicts.
He said the support rendered by the church and civil society have helped in rehabilitating many addicts who are now leading product lives.
“I acknowledge the work being done by partners such as the church and civil society in providing rehabilitation services to affected persons.
As a result of their effort, many of our people who were addicts are now leading productive lives”.
And President Lungu has expressed concern at the increased rate of suicide cases in the country.
He encouraged families and the public to render support to people suffering from mental diseases.
According to President Lungu’s revelations, Zambia’s suicide rate for males stands at 17.5 per 100,000 while that of women is at 6.2 among women.
The Head of State stressed that there is need to stem the increasing suicide rate before the numbers go up.
“Also of concern is the rate of suicides amongst our people. No problem is insurmountable and people having mental challenges also need help.
“Mental diseases can affect anybody and that is why families, friends, and the public in general need to help our people ravaged by challenges such as depression.
“In Zambia, suicide rates are now reported to be at 17.5 per 100,000 males and 6.2 among women. This needs to be stemmed before numbers go up,” He said.
Hmmmm since when? Has he stopped?
Mmmmhhh admin sure ….why put the picture of His Worship the Mayor of the Greater City of Lusaka ?? ?????
If you don’t create jobs what do you think the youths will be doing?
????so this picture of the mayor what’s with it kkkk
Hahaha ba Edgar maybe he is smoking after reducing beer consumption from 30 a week to 10 bottles.
So says the number 1 drunk in the country…. Is there a shortage
The youth lack control. Remember too much of something is bad. In moderation alcohol is fine. For me I only drink in moderation and exercise regularly. That is why I put to shame some of the young men with my body at my age
When is this moron going to concerned about corruption …he has been in govt more than 10 years only talks about alocholic abuse when he doesnt want to about other things!!
Very true there is alit of alcohol substance abuse going on in the country
Look who is talking. If he hadn’t been rescued by Michael Sata, he would have been saying something else at Ngozo Lodge. He is on record telling Magufuli that his name is pombe (beer) but he doesn’t drink while, ‘I enjoy a beer.’ Nothing annoys me more than when politicians go ultra vires and start pontificating on people’s morals as if they are parents of teenagers. Leave morals and religion to God. Your job is to destroy inequity, look after the vulnerable in society and protect persons and property with adequate laws.
What about Lungu’s nonexistent worry on runaway corruption and abuse of office?
This Lungu is a hypocrite.
But yes he is right. We have alcoholics running out country, and we have seen the results.
Jameson lover.
For sure there’s a lot of drug and alcohol abuse going on around in this country…
A lot of f00lish upnd diasporans commenting as usual with their negative tribal rubbish.
Tonight I am not drinking. I drunk too much last night celebrating Chinese new year. Hon chi chya yo
Mr. ECL, this statement would have made sense, had you said your blood is alcohol-free for the past 5 years. How about leading by example, kanshi?
But isn’t Lungu also a famous kachasu drinker?
KK threatened to resign because Zambians drink too much but he carried on ruling forever. With KK , a teetotaler, one can understand, but not one whose ‘blood levels in alcohol are so low.’ This is a government of drinkers for drinkers by drinkers. They drink in the morning, they drink in the afternoon and they drink at night. Leave us who don’t drink, leave us alone.
What a joke. Coming from a drunkard and a thief by profession. The twat does not hang any kind of remorse or dignity.
Soon he will be wailing when he will be visiting a prison gateway
Deal with the underlying causes not the symptoms. This has increased under your watch. Two sets of groups drinking ‘too much’ – those in your cohort who have amassed so much I’ll gotten proceeds and don’t know how to spend it and those left languishing without any discernible future who are drinking away the little they get now and then
Indeed the alcohol and other drugs abuse should be of concern in Zambia. Alcohol consumption If not controlled by an individual contributes to mental health issues. BTW I like the picture relating to this article kikikiki
Who knows ? Maybe he’s been transformed n become born again like KZ.
For sure alcohol and substance abuse can negatively affect us as a country
It was left unchecked in the past and has led to dysfunctional country.Cry mother Zambia.
Valid concern Mr president
Close Zambia Breweries
The sensitization and rehabilitation programs will be of great help
Yes there is too much substance and alcohol abuse
Its coz of lack of economic opportunities kaili
Forgive him there is too much blood in his alcohol system
Poor Leadership and power abuse among yourselves is equally affecting the country. Fix yourselves then you will definitely fix alcohol.
What about corruption leading to supplying of fake drugs to the Zambian hospitals. This should worry us more be lots of people would be killed instead of being healed, in fact people who would be killed are those intended to be cared for. And nothing is done about this when the president can certainly do everything to bring people to book?
Research has shown that substance abuse is directly related to lack of activity (employment in this case). One cannot talk about productivity when there’s no employment. So deal with the high unemployment to keep the youth busy.
He is a good example of transformation.
Alcohol abuse needs serious attention. Many youths need rehabilitation to bring them back to their normal state. It is actually a disaster.