AS Zimbabwe is seized with a drug and substance abuse epidemic mainly among among the youthful population, journalists have been advised to use responsible language that does not discriminate or endanger the lives of people using drugs.
By Nthokozo Gudu
This was said by various stakeholders who attended a journalists at a training on capacity building on harm reduction and accurate reporting on drug use held in Harare recently and hosted by Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN).
ZCLDN Director, Mr Wilson Box said the language used on reporting on drug and subastance use could do more harm than good to the cause of ending the drug crises Zimbabwe is experiencing.
Let us not normalize the abnormal through the language that we use. We need to reverse certain terms so that the society will view these people who use drugs in a positive mind. We have different people who are using drugs and substance even in the professional world hence the need for a positive language in order to accommodate them in the society,” said Box.
Zimbabwe has over the years been experiencing a surge in drug and substance abuse related incidences owing to a myriad of factor ranging from availability of new psychoactive substances on the Zimbabwean market such as broncleer, ecstasy, cocaine, injectable pethidine, ketamine, marijuana, and crystal meth use. The poor economic performance which led to idleness amongst the youthful populations, COVID-19 lockdowns, and the rise of the internet and other social media platforms where drug use information could be shared, have also been blamed for the increase in drug and substance abuse.
Executive Director of Mubatirapamwe Trust, Christina Madamombe said journalists should shun terms that stigmatise people who use drugs and substances.
“The language we use to talk about drug users can have a significant impact on how they see themselves and how they are perceived by others, the terms we use are stigmatizing hence they should not be used,we should desist from naming them as drug abusers but drug users.
‘’These drugs harm the brain cells, which means this person is mentally unstable hence dealing with a certain sickness, so either we stigmatise or help through the language we use. We should advocate for love through the language we use towards people who use drugs,as people who inform as journalists you should change the narrative,’’she said.
She also highlighted on the root causes of drug and substance which should be tackled with support and love from the surrounding families.
“These people who use drugs, the root cause is trying to treat issues like trauma , stress and depression hence drugs becomes an addiction. In order for us to help these people, we need to support them through the language which accommodate them as individuals inorder to deal with these issues.”
Tafadzwa Ngoshi, a social worker said journalists should advocate for human drug policies.
“There are no specific health services that are meant for drug users, stigma and discrimination is a major factor as to why there is need for humane drug policies. Adding on, there is need to revisit the criminalization of drug users, as this disadvantages vulnerable communities because that is where drug users are countless,’’ she said.
Advocate P.Charumbira expressed concern on journalists urging them on responsible reporting concerning people who use and inject drugs by playing the accommodative role in reporting,
“As journalists, you should not generalize on reports, accuracy is a mandate. It also needs a group of effort from reporters, editors and producers to achieve good quality journalism in reporting drug and substance use,’’
“Journalists should corroborate, gather and interpret data.Data journalism is also another means of accuracy as you can tell us the numbers of drug users ,information of suppliers through graphics and other means of visual information,” he added
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