An Assessment of Social-economic Behaviors Among Drug and Substances Abusers in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Drug and substance abuse have emerged as a significant public health and socio-economic challenge in Zimbabwe, particularly in urban areas such as Harare, where increasing numbers of young people are affected. The misuse of drugs and psychoactive substances has been associated with unemployment, poverty, family instability, criminal activities, poor health outcomes, and reduced productivity, thereby affecting both individuals and society (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2023; World Health Organization (WHO), 2022). Understanding the socio-economic behaviors displayed by drug and substance abusers is essential for developing effective intervention strategies and informing evidence-based policy.
The study aimed to identify the socio-economic behaviors displayed by drug and substance abusers in Harare, Zimbabwe. Specifically, it examined how substance abuse influences employment, income generation, family relationships, educational attainment, social interactions, criminal behavior, and participation in community life. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, utilizing structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions involving recovering drug users, healthcare professionals, social workers, and community stakeholders.
The findings revealed that drug and substance abuse is associated with several socio-economic behaviors, including unemployment and irregular income generation, dependence on family members, engagement in informal or criminal activities to sustain drug use, social isolation, poor interpersonal relationships, school dropout, reduced workplace productivity, and increased involvement in risky behaviors. The study further found that stigma and discrimination exacerbate these socio-economic challenges by limiting employment opportunities, reducing access to social support networks, and discouraging affected individuals from seeking treatment and rehabilitation services (Corrigan et al., 2017).
The study concludes that the socio-economic behaviors displayed by drug and substance abusers are shaped by a combination of addiction, poverty, unemployment, family dynamics, and social exclusion. It recommends strengthening community-based rehabilitation programmes, expanding employment and vocational training opportunities, enhancing family support systems, implementing public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and promoting multi-sectoral collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and local communities to facilitate successful rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration.

Substance abuse, rehabilitation centers, socio-economic behavior

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