Seven out of every ten people suffering from drug abuse illnesses are young, a health official has said.

Claire Misago, the Acting Coordinator of Mental Health in the Consultation and Psychosocial Centre, made the remarks in an interview this week. She explained that among the most affected youth are students in schools near borders, and both the disadvantaged and well-to-do youth in the City of Kigali.

She cited marijuana, glue, gas and aerosols as among the drugs that young people have got addicted to most. She pointed out that these drugs cause unhealthy mental stimulus to their consumers.

"Legal punitive measures such as jail have not deterred many young people from continuing to take these drugs," she decried, adding that more intervention was needed to reverse the trend.

Misago called for an extensive research into the real factors that entice people to get addicted to such deadly drugs.

"There is need for a more results-oriented approach. We must make this a priority in future," the official indicated.

She added there was also need to study the chain of distribution of the illicit products to ascertain how they eventually get to their users.

Misago suggested that some people just lack information on the dangers of drugs, and called on the media, education institutions and other stakeholders to help raise public awareness on the issues.

The Ministry of Health has just drafted an anti-drugs bill which now awaits cabinet scrutiny.

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