Namibia

Background

Alcohol, marijuana, crack cocaine, and heroin are the most commonly used drugs in Namibia. While alcohol is the only legal substance in this list, it is just as devastating to its consumer and community as the other illegal drugs listed. Alcohol abuse has become a crisis in Namibia. Namibia, as well as most countries in South Africa, is currently facing a HIV epidemic, and it has been found that alcohol is a great contributor to the spread of this terminal disease. In three studies, the use of alcohol in sexual situations is “associated with lower condom use, increased casual sexual encounters, greater numbers of sex partners, higher risk sex partners, and greater multiple concurrent partnerships”(Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2016). Marijuana is also widely used amongst South Africans. Known as daga in Namibia, marijuana has becoming more and more popular amongst Namibian youth, prematurely exposing school going children to cognitive affecting drugs. Although popular with many South Africans, daga is not indigenous to the region. “The earliest evidence of cannabis in Africa outside of Egypt comes from fourteenth-century Ethiopia”. From there, “cannabis seeds were carried to the south by Bantu-speaking natives who originally lived in North Africa” (The Dagga Pipes of Southern Africa,1963) Daga is still a prevalent component of South African culture.To this day, with the exception of the few who grow a couple plants of their own, Namibia is not a producer of daga (Isaacs, 2007). In most western countries, marijuana is considered a gateway drug. It can easily be inferred that because of low law enforcement, marijuana has introduced Namibians, especially young Namibians, to other drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin and thus expanding Namibias drug crisis.

UN Involvement

Alcohol abuse in Namibia is an epidemic in itself, and is a contributing factor to the growth of the HIV epidemic there as well. Although this, because it is legal, the UN has failed to provide services to those who are alcohol dependent. The same could be said about UN involvement regarding marijuana use in South Africa. In 2013, The Economic and Social Counsel of the United Nations asked governments to provide the Board of the specifics on trade of psychotropic substances so they could provide a statistical report. Namibia failed to submit any details on such trade for 2013 (Omalaeti Technologies, 2018). With little to no evidence to report on, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report on cannabis in Africa simply recommended that “greater emphasis should be put on data collection and analysis with a view to improving our understanding of the issue, and identifying the most appropriate interventions from the range of existing methods” (Unodc.org, 2018).

Country Policy and Involvement

Namibia faces, “dual and connected epidemics that substantially threaten morbidity, mortality, and productivity” (Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2016). Despite these well-known harms, Namibian Parliament has done little to finance programs that monitor alcohol consumption and production or even establish programs that help those who are alcohol addicted. It is understood how it may be hard to monitor consumption. In one study, it was found that, “Namibia home-brewed beer is the most significant type of alcoholic beverage” and accounts for 67% of consumption (Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2016). To combat the alcohol abuse epidemic facing much of South Africa, the Regional Committee for Africa endorsed a regional strategy on reduction of the harmful use of alcohol in 2010 (Afro.who.int, 2018). Meanwhile, the fight against ending the use of marijuana endures. In 2006, The National Youth Counsel of Namibia issued a statement saying that to, “create conditions that prevent young people to be involved in drugs and other forms” was priority and was part of the Namibian National Youth Policy established in the same year (Shekuza, 2018). Also apart of the statement released from The National Youth Counsel was a plan to up jail time to those caught with possession of marijuana to twenty years, but the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) reported back in 2014 that many countries in Africa, including Namibia, “lack the capacity and systems for monitoring drug abuse and collecting and analyzing drug-related data” (Lelamobile.com, 2015). Due to low law enforcement on reducing marijuana use, some theorize that that has contributed to the rise of crack cocaine and heroin addicts. Because of inadequate systems to monitor drug use, the amount of cocaine and heroin addicts is unknown, but from an account given by a cocaine addict in an article called, “Drug Abuse Remains A Challenge For Namibia And Africa” published by Lela, the addict explains that the community of addicts consists of many who are desperate to reach recovery. In the same article, a man by the name of Dr. Shaun Whittaker states that, “mental health unfortunately does not seem to be a priority in Namibia as no political will seems to exist in this regard.” With little action taken by parliament, drug use in Namibia has been taken to new heights, or lows depending on ones view point. A new street drug has been introduced to Namibia. Known as Nyaope, this concoction of a drug includes dagga, heroin, anti-retro-viral drugs, rat poison, acid and even Mandrax. It is highly addictive and is ruining the lives of its users (Policyresearch.limpopo.gov.za, 2008).

Possible Solutions

Controlling drug abuse is essential to the future of Namibia’s youth and Namibia in its entirety. The Namibian healthcare system is insufficient in dealing with the challenges of rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts (Lelamobile.com, 2015), but low budget and health affective solutions can be put in place to reduce the number of drug abusers and those affected by drug abuse. Although 67% of alcohol production is home brewed, 23% is store bought (Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2016). Policies and regulations could be implemented that would raise the sales tax on alcoholic beverages. Stores that sell alcohol could be limited and far spread across the country, making it difficult to access. Condoms could be more easily and widely available in places like bars or markets. If more widely accessible, people would be normalized and prone to using condoms, thus reducing the spread of HIV. Money confiscated by law enforcement in drug deals can be used to organize rehabilitation programs for people with all addictions. Community-based programs such as awareness campaigns could be used to educate Namibians, especially the youth, as to the dangers and affects of drug addiction. Without implementing solutions, HIV will continue to spread at enormous rates, children will continue to be introduced to drugs at earlier ages, more people will become addicted, families will become strained, and society will break as a whole. It is urgent that Namibia put policies into place and that law enforcement enforces them seriously.