Drug, alcohol abuse affects youths, says Losavati

DRUG and alcohol abuse is causing unemployment, lack of education and disabilities in young people, according to a health specialist.
Laloki Hospital drug and alcohol coordinator Wilbur Losavati said people between 15 and 39 were the ones mostly affected by such abuse.
Drug and substance abuse affects mental health.
She has seen 10 inmates in Bomana who have mental problem and is helping them to manage their condition.
She said most of murder convicts in prisons were linked to drug and alcohol abuse.
“People are suffering from mental health disorders or mental illnesses because of neglecting simple rules of healthy eating and drinking which ultimately damage the body system or brain.”
Losavati said a person with severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders had health problems which remained undetected or untreated.
“Food habits and recreational habits are two main causes of ill health, therefore good health is vital for all facets of life. Physical and mental disorders always go hand in hand,” she said.
Losavati was speaking during the completion of a three-week training for 28 inmates from Bomana prison on drug education and character development.
Correctional Service Commissioner Michael Waipo said drug and alcohol were “a crisis in our country”.
“People who have been involved in drug and alcohol abuse and now in prison would have a better understanding of how to address this issue, ‘Waipo said.
National Narcotics Bureau’s Nichodemus Nasoro said they were working at increasing the penalty for offences
related to drug and alcohol abuse soon.