Unemployment and broken families listed among the top causes of drug abuse in Rwanda

Unemployment and broken families have been identified as some of the root causes of alcoholism and drug abuse among Rwandan youth with many of them opting to use the illegal substances to escape the realities of life.

According to the UN 2019 World Drug Report, 35 million people suffer from drug use disorders worldwide, with smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs collectively responsible for 11.8 million deaths each year.

Closer to home, a 2019 research by the Institute for Security Studies, states that East Africa’s drug use problem is projected to nearly triple, going from about 2 million users currently to 5.5 million users in 2050 if nothing is done.

In Rwanda, a 2018 mental health survey by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre revealed that 1.6% of the youth suffer from drug and alcohol-related disorders.

But, what are the exact causes of substance abuse especially among the youth?

Jermaine Murekezi, a young resident of Kigali said; "In my opinion, poverty is one of the reasons why many youths are turning to drugs.  When the youth have no jobs and see no future ahead of them, they opt to use drugs. Some of the young people take drugs for fun, others to escape the grim realities, while others are influenced by the groups they associate with. 

Murekezi share sentiments with Leonard Bugira, a fellow Kigali resident. 

"Some youth feel they are independent and are above their parents. Some cannot even be asked why they come home late, they feel they have a right to do what they want. Some are very disobedient and disrespectful. To add to that, there are these bad films that they watch and the bad company that they keep. Bad company eventually corrupts good morals," Bugira said. 

Broken families also contribute greatly to the rise of drug abuse in the Rwandan society.

Kevin Niyitanga shared his story with RBA; "Our Dad chased us away from home. He fought with our mum and she left, afterward, he also chased us away," 

Gasana Udahemuka Magnus, a Clinical psychologist at CHUK told RBA that, "Some of these young people are born in unstable families that have no values, families where there is divorce and sometime domestic violence, where the children are not cared for. All this drives the young people to substance abuse,"

According to the Director General of the National Rehabilitation Services, AIME BOSENIBAMWE, the government spends about 80 million RWF per month in rehabilitation of youth at the IWAWA Rehabilitation Centre.

He said; "If you look at the Iwawa rehab Centre for example, money is required for treatment because many of the youth come with different diseases, some money goes to the food they eat, and they must eat well, so it's expensive, money is required for their clothes and other need they have and there is also the payment of the caregivers as well as psychologists. All these costs us about 80 million Rwandan Francs per month."

Statistics show that 10% of rehabilitated drug users in Rwanda relapse. According to AIME BOSENIBAMWE, the society needs to continue the rehabilitation walk with the youth in order to help them stay clean.

"Iwawa does not completely change the person. Please understand that when people go to Iwawa, they don’t come out as saints. But when they leave Iwawa, the society, local leaders and other stakeholders need to pick up from where we left and do a follow up on these young people," Bosenibamwe added. 

 According to statistics from the National Rehabilitation Service, currently, 4318 youth are undergoing rehabilitation at the Iwawa Rehab Centre, while 1500 others are being rehabilitated at the new Nyamagabe rehab centre. In Gitagata rehab centre, there are about 400 children who below the age of 18.