Reactions to problems of drug abuse in Zambia

Apart from the cannabis, the abuse of other drugs in Zambia was not considered a major problem in the past. There was obviously a lack of knowledge of the nature and extent of drug abuse. At present, limited information on drugs and drug abuse is incorporated into school curricula. When studies on drug abuse and on attitudes and reactions to abuse were initiated at the request of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and because of rising public awareness, it became apparent that a drug abuse problem was beginning to develop in Zambia although it had not yet reached serious proportions. Such a situation demanded new preventive efforts which should include drug education, information and research components as well as a need to involve the people most concerned at all levels in both programme design and implementation. These components are described in this paper and it is emphasized that the planning of programmes in Zambia must form part of regional activities in cooperation with neighboring countries.