They catch the habit from their friends, they learn it from community members and sometimes, the habit is passed on from their own parents and guardians at home. There are so many ways in which teenagers are initiated in the habit of alcohol and substance abuse, a vice that has destroyed the lives of many.

According to a 2011 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200 million people worldwide abuse alcohol and drugs at least once a year. And each year, 2.5 million people die globally from drug-abuse related illnesses. 

Rwandan youth are no strangers to drug abuse. A study made by Ministry of Youth and ICT in 2012 indicated that the level of alcohol use by the youth aged between 14 and 35 was 34% while tobacco use was at 8.5%. It is true that drug abuse and drug trafficking are on the decline but still, drug-related crimes remain the major crimes registered in Rwanda.

At the Iwawa islands on Lake Kivu, Rutsiro District, in the Western Province stands Iwawa Rehabilitation and Skills Development Centre, also known as IRVC. It was established by the government of Rwanda through the Minister of Youth and ICT in 2010 as a means to eradicate the rising trend of youth delinquency, most of this behaviour triggered by alcohol and substance abuse. 

The facility accommodates approximately two thousand youth who are now being provided with skills as well as civic education but most importantly, being rehabilitated.

"Due to alcohol and substance abuse, most of them were school dropouts or had already quit their jobs by the time they were taken to IRVC,” reports Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth and ICT.

Rwandan teenagers get high on cannabis, kanyanga and several other illicit gin and substances, some manufactured locally and some smuggled into the country from the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Schools have time and again caught students carrying illegal substances and have taken the necessary actions; calling the parents of the students in order to discuss the way forward. And in many cases they have demanded that the students mention the source of the drugs but these efforts are always in vain.

"It’s as though the children are sworn to secrecy. They cannot reveal where they got the drugs no matter what we do,” says Yves Mulihira, a school head teacher. He adds that even when they have received a hint, the people involved in the sale of illegal alcohol and substance are hard to catch because they change their location quite regularly.

Why do teenagers engage in alcohol and drug abuse?

The most common cause of alcohol and drug abuse among teenagers is peer pressure. This is due to the fact that teenagers are easily influenced by the people they surround themselves with. "If someone is always in the company of those who drink or smoke, he is bound to catch the vice because his friends’ behaviour will influence him,” says David Mutabazi, a 15-year-old student. 

Second most common to this is the fact that teenagers get curious about what "being high” entails. This sometimes arises from the misconceptions received from their peers. "Sometimes the teenagers are misinformed by their peers that alcohol and drugs can help them forget their problems or get cured from certain diseases,” says Valens Nsanzimana, a teacher. Unfortunately, what should be testing the waters turns into a habit and then eventually, an addiction.

Sometimes, the teenagers dealing with low self-esteem assume that taking drugs will give them confidence or help them overcome their insecurities or fears. 

Media influence also comes into play. Because of the particular stage at which the teenagers are, branded products that are associated with risky behaviour and that provide, in their view, immediate gratification, thrill or social status tend to attract their attention. This is coupled with the fact that hip-hop, a music genre is most popular among the teenagers and most of the lyrics in hip-hop songs glorify drug abuse. The lyrics sometimes even glorify making bad decisions after "getting high.”

For instance, in one of the most popular hit songs of 2011, the lyrics of the chorus state: So what we get drunk? So what we smoke weed? We’re just having fun, we don’t care who sees. So what we go out? That’s how it’s supposed to be; living young and wild and free.

In Nsengimana’s view, alcohol and substance abuse is also positively correlated to poverty, lack of education as well as growing in an orphaned home or one that is headed by a child.

Having a family history of alcohol or substance abuse can also greatly push a teenager into the habit. "The teenagers gain access to the drugs in their homes, most especially if their parents or guardians use them or sell them,” says Fred Mutabazi, a 17-year-old student.

Warning signs that a teenager is abusing alcohol or drugs

When teenagers start abusing drugs, they portray strange characteristics that they didn’t have before. A well-behaved youth is likely to become rebellious or even violent, giving far-fetched reactions to small issues. The ones who were previously strong-willed are likely to get worse or withdrawn. 

"As soon as teenagers start the habit of drug abuse, they are likely to start committing petty crimes like stealing but if no one pays attention, these crimes could escalate into something as bad as murder,” says Christopher Lusombo, a teacher.

Drug abuse also makes teenagers oblivious to the importance of education, Mulihira says. Thus they will have absolutely no respect for school regulations and authority and they may either start to confront every person who tries to correct them, they will start dodging classes or even stop going to school altogether. "Abusing drugs definitely makes it impossible to perform well in school,” says Diane Umutoniwase, a 17-year-old student.

Teenagers who are abusing drugs are also likely to engage in other risky behaviour such as having unprotected sex and engaging in unnecessary arguments and physical brawls. This is because the drugs interfere with their mental capability and causes them to fail to make the right decisions or to weigh their actions against repercussions. 

"Teenagers who are abusing drugs lack self-control and neither do they have discipline,” says Fred Mutabazi.

What can be done to stop drug abuse among teenagers?

"Communication lines between parents and the school must be kept open at all times. This will make it easy to monitor the teenagers both at school and at home,” says Mulihira. Still, Mulihira states that monitoring the students is quite challenging as they tend to abuse the drugs on their way to or from home. 

He therefore urges the school administrators as well as parents to provide counsel to teenagers at all times about the dangers of drug abuse. The communication should also go as far as throwing out all the myths and misconceptions that the teenagers may have bred about drug abuse.

Umutoniwase believes that teenagers also have a role to play by educating their peers and advising them to avoid this habit. The consequences of drinking alcohol, she says, are quite dire including cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, heartfailure among others.

"Sometimes teenagers abuse drugs because they feel rejected by their parents and are detached from the society in general. Parents therefore need to pay attention to their children,” says Nsengimana.

Nsengimana goes on to add that although the government has put in place efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse, the legal framework needs to be adjusted so that the offenders receive heavy penalties.

Fred and David Mutabazi agree with Nsengimana, saying that students who abuse drugs should be removed from the student community and taken to rehabilitation centres because if they are allowed to roam free, they are likely to spread the habit to several other people. However, Fred Mutabazi believes that extreme measures should only be taken after counselling and punishments have failed to do the trick.

At the end of the day, teenagers need to remember that the responsibility of keeping away from bad habits and addictions mostly lies on their shoulders. After all, it’s their own lives that they are protecting.

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TEACHERS, STUDENTS GIVE THEIR VIEWS

Madine Habimana, student There are few girls who use drugs as compared to boy. But a number of factors compel them to consume drugs. Many teenagers take drugs because they have problems and hope to get rid of them by consuming smoking or drinking. 

Arsene Hakizimana, studentBoys are the biggest culprits when it comes to using drugs. But most of the addicts are those that spend most of the time roaming around the city. If left unoccupied for long, boys usually look for something to keep them busy and eventually consuming drugs.

Aimable Kubaho, studentSome teenagers take drugs to show off because they think it is cool. And by doing it regularly, addiction to alcohol and drugs sets in. The solution to drugs is doing exercisies.

Bonaventure Kwizera, teacherMany students who drink or smoke come from a similar background in most cases. If the father uses drugs, then the child may choose to imitate him just because he thinks it’s not a bad idea after all. 

Justus Tuyisaye, studentCigarettes, alcohol and marijuana are some of the things students abuse. Much as some students take drugs out of peer pressure, some times it’s out out of frustration. For instance when my friend lost a parent, he resorted to alcohol and drugs until he became a serious drunkard. 

Mariam Umuhoza, studentSome students take drugs because they are have no one to monitor them closely. Parents and teachers could be of great help to these students if they kept close to them. Some boys even have the guts to take drugs at home.