Drug abuse-related mental illnesses on the rise – MoH

As Rwanda gears up to celebrate the International Day against Drug Abuse which will take place before the end of this month, the number of mental patients seeking services at Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital as a result of drug abuse has risen. Latest figures available from the Mental Health Department in the Ministry of Health show that there were 440 cases of drug abuse related cases which is 2.8 percent of all mental illness cases observed in 2009, while the number increased in 2010 to 994, equivalent to 7.6 percent. The hospital has continued to register higher case of drug abuse related mental illnesses and the current figure stands at 1,099 which are estimated at 8 percent of all mental illness cases registered at the hospital. Doctor Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the head of Mental Health Division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, said that indeed one of the outcomes of drug abuse is mental illnesses. She has urged all stakeholders to play a role in combating the vice, noting that the biggest drug abusers in Rwanda are youth. She revealed that 7.46 percent of the Rwandan youth are alcohol dependent with 4.88 percent depending on tobacco while 2.54 percent of them are cannabis dependant. Statistics from the Neuropsychiatric Hospital also indicate that 16-20 year olds are the biggest consumers of drugs followed by those between 21 to 25 years. There are more than 250 youth (aged 16-21) who are at the Ndera Hospital as a result of having abused drugs leading to mental illnesses. Uneducated youth and those who aren’t in school are the biggest drug abusers according to Kayiteshonga. She also stated that most of the drugs abused in Rwanda come from neighboring countries. “We are joining efforts with police and other authorities to ensure that there are no more drugs sneaked into Rwanda by tightening security at all the identified drug trafficking routes and random border posts. We have also laid various measures of prevention against drug abuse in schools and community,” she said. The official said that more medics have also been trained to provide mental health care to deal with the cases alongside creating anti-drug clubs in schools. ACP Theos Badege, Commissioner for Public Relations and Community Policing at the Rwanda National Police, said that drug abuse is also a leading factor in some of the registered Gender Based Violence cases. He stated that the police are using detained drug abusers to lead them to other drug traffickers in order to break the chain of those who plant, supply, deal, and consume drugs. “We have managed to identify most of the drug trafficking routes and tightened security at those spots. We are also using sniffer dogs especially targeting junctions such as in Kayonza, Musanze and entry points to Kigali also including Giticyinyoni, Mulindi and at some boarding schools,” he said. For Anglican Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo of Gahini Diocese, although much needs to be done to help drug abusers get out of the habit, drug traffickers should be the bigger target to stop them from supplying. He said that the church can play a vital role in fighting drug abuse, observing that since there are churches in every village (umudugudu), they can reach out to people in their community and stand up against drug abuse. Statistics from the Anti Narcotics Unit of the Rwanda National Police show that out of 3,384 people arrested last year over sale and consumption of drugs, 2,566 were aged between 18 and 35.