University students warned against drug abuse

Nov 08, 2022

The campaign targets about 10,000 students who are at risk of becoming pregnant without protecting themselves.

Nkumba University students during the health camp and launch of the 'Achieve your dreams campaign' at Nkumba University. (Credit: Juliet Waiswa)

Juliet Waiswa
Journalist @New Vision

EDUCATION | STUDENTS | DRUGS

WAKISO - Addiction and substance abuse are the issues that have led to the increase in mental disorders, a health expert has warned.

Amlyn Otim , a clinical psychotherapist at the Serenity Centre Uganda, while addressing university students at Nkumba in Entebbe municipality, warned that once misused the drugs can lead to mental health problems which have afflicted many students.

In a study done in 2011 and 2012, 70% of secondary students in the districts of Kampala and Gulu said they had ever used alcohol or substances and 39% of these used them regularly.

Drug abuse is cited as the leading cause of mental illness in Uganda and the world over.

According to Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Process (UPPAP) reports, an initiative of the finance ministry, mental disorders are on the rise from 4,000 persons in 2012 to about 20,000 in 2015, with alcohol and drug consumption cited as the major causes because of poverty.

Otim said 80% of mental problems are caused by abuse of drugs.

During a health camp and the inauguration of Achieve Your Dream campaign at Nkumba University on Friday, November 4, 2022, he told the students that abusing drugs, which usually turns into addiction, leads to non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, kidney and heart complications.

Otim said many people admitted to Butabika National Mental referral, are because of drug abuse.

The communications Manager Family Point Abayita in Entebbe, Eunice Amon, said their organisation came up with Achieve Your Dream campaign at Nkumba University, as a way of saving students from getting unwanted pregnancies and helping them to remain in school.

The campaign targets about 10,000 students who are at risk of becoming pregnant without protecting themselves.

Amon said her organisation collaborated with Serenity Centre Uganda in order to encourage university students to stay off drugs since they can lead them into sexual-related activities.

Register to begin your journey to our premium content .