Africa-Press – Angola. One hundred and 20 drug trafficking crimes were recorded by police authorities in the province of Malanje, from January 2022 to December 11 of this year, essentially involving young people.
The information was given in this city, by the deputy governor for the Political, Social and Economic sector, Franco Mufinda, highlighting that in addition to the crimes, the Police also seized and destroyed 5,700 liamba plants.
Speaking at the Provincial Conference on tobacco, alcohol and other psychotropic products, the person responsible said that the use of these substances has been growing in the province, where smoking has been one of the main causes of cardiovascular respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
On the other hand, he made it known that during the period in question, the province registered 330 cases of psychiatric illnesses, involving 37 smokers of legal cigarettes and 84 users of marijuana, aged between 15 and 25 years.
He highlighted that due to the abusive use of liamba and other heavy drugs, Malanje currently has many mentally ill patients, a situation that requires the involvement of all social actors, including churches in raising awareness among citizens to end this practice.
On the other hand, Franco Mufinda highlighted the need to prevent diseases resulting from the use of tobacco and other chemical substances, as preventive health is better than cure.
Meanwhile, the head of the Provincial Department of Statistics, Planning and Human Resources of Malanje, Manuel Monteiro, warned society about the risks of tobacco consumption, having highlighted the reputation that the province has when it comes to liamba production, which in nothing dignifies the region.
However, he recalled that when the Mental Health Care Center opened in 2019, in the Cahala neighborhood, 70 percent of diagnosed cases were mental disorders due to the use of psychotropic substances.
He appealed to families and society to get involved in the fight against drugs.
The Conference fell within the scope of World No Tobacco Day, which is marked today and took place under the motto “Let’s Grow Food and Not Tobacco” with the aim of raising awareness among citizens about the damage to health caused by the use of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
During the event, issues related to the role of health promotion in combating, trade and consumption of tobacco, statistics on tobacco consumption in the country and the State’s challenges in combating drugs, youth program on the prevention of smoking and alcoholism were addressed. , among others.
ANGOP
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