DRUGS | STUDENTS | ADDICTION

KAMPALA - There are addicts and there are those who are almost addicted.

If you visit hospitals often, you may hear the odd tale about a senior doctor who cannot perform unless he drinks a few bottles of beer first, to steady his nerves.

Addicts, be of drugs, alcohol or gambling, are not only found in bars or streets; many of them are fully employed and functioning members of society.

When Joel was in his first year at Makerere University, he was a good performer, his points were high. He was the cream of the class. His performance attracted students to always be around him for discussions. But there were disturbing signs.

He would suddenly disappear for days and could not be reached on phone. In his absence, he would miss handing in coursework, and when he reappeared, he would be with bruises all over his body. At the end of the three years, he had retakes and he could not graduate with fellow students. He is still at the University.

On Saturday (March 11), the Julius Nyerere leadership centre together with the counselling and guidance centre of Makerere University held a public lecture intended to prevent and discourage negative addictions among students. 

The dialogue was held under the theme, ‘How are you feeling’

The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues affecting students at Makerere University, enhance health-seeking behaviour among students and mobilise efforts to curb the mental challenges students face.

During the conference, over 100 counselling peer buddies were trained and equipped with basic counselling skills to assist in offering basic knowledge about mental health to fellow students.

Some of the addictions most students said they were struggling with are alcohol, drugs abuse and pornography. During the conference, students said that they know two or three fellow students who completely lost due to these terrible addictions mostly attributed to peer pressures.

Addiction is doing something you do want to do and you cannot stop regardless of the consequences.

Dr Gardner Rwakiseta Herbert, the mind educationist and conscious leadership facilitator, at the Julius Nyerere leadership centre, urged students to remain hopeful even when the situation was bad.

“If you see someone is always desperate, aggressive and in emotional pain it shows that one is addicted to something. An addict finds difficulty keeping up with the pace of work and deadlines will be continuously extended,” Dr Rwakiseta, said.

Dr Rwakiseta advised students that if they want to overcome addiction, they need to have a strategy by avoiding certain people or environments, starting small, being curious, observing the trigger and do not focus on stopping something, focus on substituting with good.

Wilson Babinga Gozan, the minister of student Affairs at the 88th Guild Makerere University, said that many student addicts have mastered the art of living a double life. However, deterioration in the quality of work is a revealing sign; although it can also be attributed to other emotional problems a student could be facing.

“Worsening personal hygiene, poor peer relations, and unexplained absences are red flags. If you are out there struggling with an addiction, come to us we shall help you overcome it and you will be cured,” Gozan said.

Fred Baguma, said that the training has helped them because they are certain things he did not know that they were addictions.

“This training has impacted our lives positively, it is an eye-opener, I am sure many of us are going to clean ourselves, especially those who are struggling with alcohol and drugs,” Baguma said.

About Julius Nyerere

The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre was established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to honour the legacy of His Excellency the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Launched on October 6, 2018, the Centre has since its inception had three ambitious objectives.

The Centre serves as an important initiative to Makerere and society at large in grooming and equipping young leaders with the moral campus for leadership and a willingness to serve.