Arresting or Treating: Effects of Police Actions in Solving the Addict Problem: A Case of Urban District, Zanzibar

Abstract

This is a descriptive study aimed to assess police actions in solving addict problem. The study was conducted at urban District- Zanzibar. The study used quantitative approach where questionnaire was conducted to 83 respondents out of the study population of 223,033 including police officers, mental hospital workers (methadone section), addicts, ordinary citizens, sober houses managers. Respondents were purposively selected due to their roles and participation on the issue under discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. Descriptive statistics was affected to display frequencies, percentages and mean scores with the support of the SPSS. Interpretation of mean score was as 3.5-4.00 = strongly acceptable, 2.50-3.49= acceptable, 1.50-2.49 = not acceptable and 1.00-1.49 = strongly not acceptable. After analysis, the study concluded that, community did not acknowledge some of the police practices as an appropriate way to halt illicit drug users and addicts. Practices such as police operations, bullying, threats, effecting hash regulations and punishment, detaining and imprisoning, arresting and detention, and frequent visits to health clinics are putative by community. In other side, community accepted police verbal and physical abuses to force admission and confession for fake drug case as suitable ways to halt drug users and addicts. From these amazing results, the study recommended that, police and other stakeholders associated with illicit drug users and addict have to use medication technique as to lessen pinch of the illicit drug issue.