Breaking the cycle: Parents can help children overcome drug use

Drug Prevention Champion, Tafadzwa Tsigo shared his lived realities, whilst children hold placards with anti-drug messages

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

A Drug Prevention Champion has revealed that parents and guardians play a crucial role in helping their children overcome drug and substance use.

Tafadzwa Tsigo aged 25, revealed that contrary to some experiences, children who are drug users will need all the love and support they can get so as to overcome the situation.

He revealed this on Saturday as he testified on his lived realities at the Faith Ministries Chadcombe Community Church zumba and walk/run event which was held in partnership with Population Solutions for Health (PSH).

The event was part of “The Strength Is In You” campaign and was held at Chadcombe Shopping Centre in Harare.

Tsigo detailed how he started taking drugs whilst he was in A-Level as a result of peer pressure until he got all the necessary support and now helps with the anti-drug and substance abuse fight.

“My message to parents is that when they see their child taking drugs, they should know that he or she is not an outcast, you should be there for them and provide them with all the necessary information and support.

“Because as a drug user in some cases you are not even aware of what you are doing, you are not even aware or the repercussions.

“So to parents even those who don’t have children who are drug users, you are still a parent in the community, you can actually help with the situation.

“So we are saying that when a child starts taking drugs, don’t chase them away, be close to them so that the child can open up on why they chose to take drugs.

“In some cases, they can start this thinking it’s just for fun but addiction can then kick in and the moment we have addiction, then there is a problem.

“So please parents show your children the necessary support, get them all the help there is,” said Tsigo.

He also said “The Strength Is In You”, campaign was meant to show that drug users have the power to stop as he emphasized that it takes a lot of courage to overcome drug use.