PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday launched the National Narcotics Policy to guide Tanzania on the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

Launching the policy document was part of commemorating the World Anti-Narcotics Day held in Mwanza at the national level, themed ‘Invest in prevention and treatment against drugs to the household level.’

The government has been using a lot of resources in the fight against illicit drugs, but now the national policy on narcotics control will be directed at reducing the menace among the youth who are the most affected.

“I’m sure now that after putting in place the policy, we’ll now concentrates more on giving education to the public and the affected ones to end the crisis in the country,” he said.

The intention is to ensure that use of drugs declines or totally ends in the country, he said, with analysts pointing at 2022 Population and Household Census findings that 34.5 percent of Tanzanians fall between the ages of 15 and 35, and considerable sections exposed to illicit drugs.

The premier said that if not properly directed, the youth could become a burden to society, affirming that the government’s move is to nurture an honest, responsible, hardworking and patriotic youth, fully contributing to their own development and the wider society.

“Through this gathering and in the whole of this week I am sure that people who are here will be envoys to spread education against use of drugs,” he declared.

The government will strengthen clubs against the use drugs in schools, colleges and other learning institutions to stem the menace in schools and colleges, he said.

Last year drug enforcement authorities seized over two million kilograms of cannabis, illustrating how the government is working hard to fight the menace, he said.

“We want Tanzanians to keep away completely from taking drugs, he said, citing the services of medically assisted treatment (MAT) centres for service to bring their health status back to normal,” he said.

Since 2018 the government has given directives to district councils and sat with banks, telling them to support youths who have stopped to take drugs, he recalled, affirming that youths can be supported if they form productive groups to participate in development activities.

 Youths who have stopped to take drugs need to be supported with start-up cash  to enable them to engage in income generating activities, he added.