Health ministry joins fight against drug abuse

The Ministry of Health will boost efforts to clamp down on drug abuse and channel more psychiatric and counselling services to all the districts in the country to assist affected youth.The assurance was made last Friday at a media briefing to discuss the forthcoming events organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to mark International Day against Drug Abuse due on June 26.“Drug abuse has been so rampant among the youth and is one of the main causes of domestic violence. The Ministry wants to extend more help particularly to those who are addicted as well as those who have not yet been exposed,” Nancy Misago, an official from the Mental Health Department at MoH said.“While we mark the day against drug abuse, we will work with different partners including police, which has been pivotal in cracking drug trade rings, to once and for all rid Rwanda of the vice that has tormented the youth.”MoH statistics indicate that more than half the youth use drug substances with seven percent dependent on alcohol, 4.8 percent on tobacco and 2.5 percent addicted to cannabis.“Though use and abuse increases with age, the onset is as low as 11 years of age. A number of youth who use drugs are reportedly those who never had a chance to go to school or come from families where parents themselves abuse drugs,” Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the Director of the Mental Health Division said.“The main reason why drug use is prevalent is because most users start when they do not know the full repercussions, including addiction and death. Therefore, one of our major goals will be to sensitise the youth and share with them strong reasons why drugs are not good for their health.”Although the most abused substances are alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, glue and sedatives like Diazepam, MoH expressed concern over proliferation of more dangerous drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis into the country.Statistics from police indicate that in 2010, drug abuse was responsible for 140 road accidents in which, 30 people died, 45 were seriously injured and 90 vehicles damaged beyond repair.“Police stepped up border controls to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and so far, the trade has been limited to a great extent,” a police official said at the conference.“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that no illegal drugs are produced within and that none are smuggled into Rwanda.”By October last year, police operations intercepted and arrested 2,011 drug smugglers, 190 of whom were female. Over 2,090 kilograms of cannabis was impounded in the onslaught.

National

Health ministry joins fight against drug abuse