Maputo (Mozambique), 26 June 2024 – The Central Office for Drug Prevention and Control (GCPCD) in Mozambique, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), conducted a week-long campaign between 19 and 26 June in the province of Tete to raise awareness regarding the use of psychoactive substances, especially among the youth in schools and in the community.
Domingos Viola, Governor of Tete Province, launched the campaign at Tete’s main high school by urging students to "stay away from drugs,” at an event attended by students, teachers, government officials, and civil society representatives. Highlighting that the use of psychotropic substances hinders the psychological development of youth, he called on all stakeholders to unite in the fight against drug use and illicit trafficking, emphasizing the threat these pose to public health.
This year's World Drug Day celebrations, under the slogan The evidence is clear: invest in prevention, emphasized the need for investment in prevention, advocating for rehabilitation over punishment, defending the human rights of people who use drugs, and protecting communities from drug traffickers.
Educational Efforts
Throughout the week, several lectures were held at both secondary and primary schools. These sessions aimed to raise awareness among teenagers and children about the dangers of drug use, including alcohol consumption, which is reportedly prevalent in Tete schools. Efforts to combat this issue include community activities coordinated by the Tete’s provincial GCPCD office and local civil society organizations.
As part of the campaign and advocacy for stakeholders and key partners, the delegation visited A Fazenda da Esperança (The Farm of Hope), a rehabilitation centre for female drug users in Boroma district. Susana, a volunteer at the centre, emphasized that successful rehabilitation requires strong personal commitment to seek assistance. However, they also requested that UNODC and other local partners assist in resource mobilization to sustain their interventions, and ultimately spreading the word regarding the centre’s services offered to all people in need with no exception.
International Day Celebrations
The campaign’s highpoint occurred on 26 June with celebrations in Tete city, including a student march and an event at the Tete City Council Hall. The event was attended by Tete Secretary of State Elisa Zacarias and GCPCD’s national director Filomena Chitsondzo. Youth played a central role, entertaining the audience with cultural events, fashion shows, and theatrical performances.
In her speech, Elisa Zacarias stressed the importance of prevention, urging parents and carers to monitor teenagers and young people more closely. She highlighted that preventing drug use begins at home and that a collaborative effort with schools is crucial. Filomena Chitsondzo pointed out that psychoactive substances, alcohol, and tobacco are the main causes of addiction among teenagers, serving as gateways to drug use, calling for greater collaboration and engagement from all sectors of society to combat this issue.
A key highlight was a speech by Ester, a representative from Força Jovem Universal, in which she shared her personal experience with drug use, cautioning teenagers about the influences they choose. She recounted her journey from alcohol consumption in school to heavy drug use, depression, and suicidal thoughts, until she joined Help, a rehabilitation project.
This campaign generated greater awareness and expectation regarding the way forward in for the engagement of all key partners in advocacy and teacher and community leader training efforts.
UNODC extends its thanks to Norway for its support.