Namibia's law enforcement agents confiscated drugs with a street value of about N$10 million last year, while a report released in November of the same year showed that 72% of Namibian youths consume alcohol.
According to health programme manager for substance abuse Rene Adams, this information was revealed in the Monitoring Alcohol Marketing Practices in Africa (Mampa) report conducted in November.
Adams said because of this, the ministries of health as well as that of safety and security will conduct a nationwide African School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs from next week until 27 February.
The nationwide survey will be conducted among students between the ages of 13-16 years, most of whom are in Grades 8-10, and aims to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse.
Adams said the Directorate of Social Welfare Services at the ministry will coordinate the research, and that the findings of the survey will guide practitioners and stakeholders to develop interventions that will address drug abuse among the youth in Namibia.
She also said the training on the research methodology, data collection and field work took place from 3 to 7 February 2014 and was conducted by Finnish consultants.
“The samples will be drawn randomly from the list of schools in all regions as provided by the ministry. Data collection by the trained staff will take place during the 17-27 February in all the regions,” she said.
Adams added that the Directorate of Social Welfare Services is requesting support and cooperation from all the relevant partners in the completion of the research.
She said, in 2013, the Minister of Education, David Namwandi, and the Minister of Safety and Security, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, indicated that drug abuse among pupils was of major concern.
Their concerns were triggered by the results of the last nationwide Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) Baseline Survey on Alcohol and Drug Use in Namibia published in 2002 which revealed that 56% of Namibians consume alcohol.
A 2011 report by the World Health Organisation titled ‘Global status report on alcohol and health’ revealed that alcohol causes nearly four percent of deaths worldwide, and is ranked as the third leading disease risk factor equal to unprotected/unsafe sex. It is also the second leading risk factor globally.
According to health programme manager for substance abuse Rene Adams, this information was revealed in the Monitoring Alcohol Marketing Practices in Africa (Mampa) report conducted in November.
Adams said because of this, the ministries of health as well as that of safety and security will conduct a nationwide African School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs from next week until 27 February.
The nationwide survey will be conducted among students between the ages of 13-16 years, most of whom are in Grades 8-10, and aims to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse.
Adams said the Directorate of Social Welfare Services at the ministry will coordinate the research, and that the findings of the survey will guide practitioners and stakeholders to develop interventions that will address drug abuse among the youth in Namibia.
She also said the training on the research methodology, data collection and field work took place from 3 to 7 February 2014 and was conducted by Finnish consultants.
“The samples will be drawn randomly from the list of schools in all regions as provided by the ministry. Data collection by the trained staff will take place during the 17-27 February in all the regions,” she said.
Adams added that the Directorate of Social Welfare Services is requesting support and cooperation from all the relevant partners in the completion of the research.
She said, in 2013, the Minister of Education, David Namwandi, and the Minister of Safety and Security, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, indicated that drug abuse among pupils was of major concern.
Their concerns were triggered by the results of the last nationwide Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) Baseline Survey on Alcohol and Drug Use in Namibia published in 2002 which revealed that 56% of Namibians consume alcohol.
A 2011 report by the World Health Organisation titled ‘Global status report on alcohol and health’ revealed that alcohol causes nearly four percent of deaths worldwide, and is ranked as the third leading disease risk factor equal to unprotected/unsafe sex. It is also the second leading risk factor globally.
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