— Govt. advises youths to stay away from alcohol

Government has advised youths in Samfya District to stay away from alcohol and other forms of substance abuse.

Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba youths in the District should refrain from drug abuse and involve themselves activities aimed at developing them.

Mrs. Samba said it was worrying government that a lot of youths in Samfya have continued to indulge themselves in smoking dagga and unlawful beer drinking without realizing the consequences.

She said drug abuse levels are alarming in society the fact which is ripping off the moral fibre among the people in the country.

She said Government through the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has put up a fight against drug abuse and the commissioner is carrying out campaigns against drug abuse in order to stop the vice.

ZANIS reports that the Deputy Permanent Secretary was speaking during the World Anti-Drug Day commemoration at Samfya Primary School , today.

The commemoration which falls on the 26th June was this year celebrated under theme: “A message of hope: The Drug use disorder is preventable and treatable.”

And Drug Enforcement Commissioner Luapula Regional Commander Martine Chitamba says his commission has noted with dismay that women have topped on the list of people arrested in the drug scourge since the opening of the office in 2009 in the province.

Mr. Chitamba observed that women and children are vulnerable to drugs and alcohol therefore and implored the community to seriously engage DEC whenever there is need.