Addiction’s grip loosens as treatment expands in regions

SHINYANGA: FOR 40-year-old Ibrahim Seif, regret is not an occasional visitor it is a constant companion. It lingers in memories of a stable life that slowly unraveled, undone not by sudden misfortune, but by choices that seemed harmless at the time and devastating in hindsight.

A resident of Mwawaza Ward in Shinyanga Region, Mr Seif began using cannabis at the age of 30. At first, nothing appeared out of place.

He maintained his job, supported his family and continued his daily routines without disruption. For nearly five years, the drug seemed less like a threat and more like an invisible passenger present, but not yet steering the direction of his life.

In his words, cannabis “allowed him to remain himself,” a deceptive calm that often accompanies the early stages of substance use. It is, perhaps, the most dangerous phase when everything appears manageable and the risks seem distant, almost theoretical. That illusion did not last.

Encouraged by peers who dismissed cannabis as ineffective, Mr Seif was persuaded to try injectable drugs, including cocaine and heroin. What followed was not a gradual decline, but a rapid and unforgiving collapse. “If my memory serves me right,” he recalls, “my wife and two children left within two months after I started injections.

A few days later, I lost my job.” The drugs, he explains, altered not only his behaviour but also his perception of reality. They gave him a false sense of confidence one that bordered on recklessness.

“The drug drove me crazy and made me too confident to harm anybody in front of me,” he says.

There is a grim irony in addiction: even as it dismantles life piece by piece, it often convinces the individual that nothing is truly lost. Mr Seif admits that when his family left, he felt little concern. The chemical stimulation, he says, seemed to “fill the gap” a temporary substitute for relationships, responsibility and reason. Losing his job, however, forced a moment of clarity albeit a brief one. Without income, sustaining his growing dependency became increasingly difficult. Addiction, as he discovered, is not only emotionally costly but financially relentless.

“That is when I turned to robbery,” he says.

“Spending a day without drugs felt like committing a crime.” It is a statement that carries unintended dark humour an inversion of logic where survival without drugs felt more wrong than breaking the law to obtain them.

But behind the irony lies a stark reality: addiction reshapes priorities, often pushing individuals toward actions they would once have rejected.

His experience is not unique. Abdallah Salum, a former peer, shares a similar story. Having started cocaine use in 2010, he describes the physical toll of withdrawal as overwhelming. Fatigue, weakness and psychological distress created a cycle that made quitting nearly impossible without support.

“Missing drugs caused serious fatigue,” he explains. “That is why many addicts do whatever it takes to get money.” In his case, that desperation led to a violent encounter.

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Caught stealing building materials, he was attacked by a crowd and left unconscious before police intervened. Yet even such experiences did not immediately end the cycle of addiction. If anything, they highlight how deeply entrenched substance dependency can become. Ironically, it was not personal resolve alone that disrupted their addiction, but broader national efforts.

A government crackdown on drug trafficking reduced the availability of imported narcotics, causing prices to rise sharply. For many users, the cost became unsustainable.

“We wished to quit,” Mr Salum says, “especially since local drugs were less effective.” In a situation where demand met scarcity, necessity began to push individuals toward recovery though not without challenges.

Their turning point came through civil society organisations working in collaboration with Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS). Outreach programmes identified individuals struggling with addiction and connected them with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services, which combine medical intervention with counselling and behavioural support. The two men joined the programme in 2024.

However, recovery was not immediately convenient. At the time, Shinyanga lacked a MAT facility, forcing patients to travel to Mwanza Regional Referral Hospital daily. Treatment required strict adherence to a schedule methadone dose administered between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon. For individuals already facing financial hardship, this presented a significant barrier.

Transport costs alone were enough to discourage continued participation. “Some dropped out because they could not afford the journey,” Mr Salum notes. It is a reminder that access to treatment is not only about availability but also proximity and affordability factors that often determine whether recovery is sustained or abandoned. Today, both men are nearing full recovery, their lives gradually regaining structure and purpose.

They credit the programme and the people behind it for offering a second chance. That opportunity is now closer to home The recent launch of a Medication-Assisted Treatment clinic at Shinyanga Regional Referral Hospital marks a significant milestone in addressing substance dependency in the region.

Established through collaboration between the government and THPS, with financial support of approximately 145 million shillings from CRDB Bank, the facility aims to expand access to evidence-based treatment. Speaking at the launch, THPS Executive Director Dr Redempta Mbatia described the clinic as part of a broader effort to strengthen responses to drug use across Tanzania.

The facility will provide free services, including methadone treatment, counselling and psychosocial support. These interventions are designed not only to reduce dependency but also to minimise associated health risks and support reintegration into society.

Methadone, administered in controlled doses, helps manage withdrawal symptoms and stabilise patients offering a medically supervised path away from addiction. In simpler terms, it replaces chaos with routine and uncertainty with structure two things addiction tends to dismantle first.

Dr Mbatia noted that by December 2025, THPS had supported approximately 2,700 individuals across Tanzania, with 412 achieving full recovery. The addition of the Shinyanga clinic is expected to extend these outcomes to more communities in need. Commissioner General for the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority, Aretas Lyimo, welcomed the development, noting that it is the 22nd MAT clinic in the country.

He emphasised the importance of accessibility in encouraging individuals to seek treatment.

“We encourage affected youth to use this clinic so that we can collectively protect the health and future of our communities,” he said.

Beyond treatment, the government is also addressing the social challenges faced by recovering addicts. Recognising the stigma associated with past drug use, authorities have introduced programmes to support reintegration, including vocational training in fields such as masonry, electrical work and mechanics. Participants are also provided with tools to support selfemployment an approach that acknowledges a simple truth: recovery is more sustainable when accompanied by opportunity.

After all, it is difficult to rebuild a life without the means to sustain it. At the same time, authorities maintain a firm stance against drug trafficking, with strict legal penalties, including life sentences, for those involved in the trade.

CRDB Bank’s Western Zone Manager, Jumanne Wambura Wagana, highlighted the role of partnerships in making the initiative possible. Through its corporate social responsibility programmes, the bank continues to support projects that improve community well-being in areas such as health, education and the environment.