Anti-drug abuse campaign: A call for community to treat patients

By Alexia Bizumuremyi.

Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) concluded a week-long campaign against drug abuse among youth at Huye Rehabilitation center on June 16, 2022 by mobilizing Rwandans to take the victims to available centers for care and counseling.

The campaign has had a theme dubbed “Substances abuse are harmful, let’s prevent them and chase them away!”

Experts explain Substance abuse as harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances that include alcohol and illicit drugs.

The campaign was in line with treating mental disorders that are mostly caused by substance abuse. It was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

Dr. Patrick Rwagatare, Director of Gitagata-Isange Rehabilitation Center said that the center has advocated for many drug addicted youth since its establishment.

“Most of the addicted youth use illicit drugs, cannabis, Mugo, Kanyanga, Cocaine, and Mairungi among others. Many of our beneficiaries recovered and rehabilitated into their families.” He said.

He explained that every patient depending on kind of drug he/she used, gets special treatment at the level of his/her addiction. Treatment is done by professional medic doctors, psychiatrics and Psychologists specialized in mental health treatment.

Gitagata Rehabilitation Center has the capacity to host and feed ninety (90) patient. Currently, there are 56 patients including 47 men and 9 women.

A mental health survey carried out in December 2018 by Rwanda Biomedical Center revealed that 1.6 percent of Rwandans suffered from drug and alcohol related disorders.

Various negative health consequences of such substances pose heavy financial burden on individuals, families and society.

Dynamo Ndacyayisenga, an official at RBC- Drug Abuse Prevention Unit called up on the community to prevent drug abuse addiction among the youth and take the victims (patients) to available centers countrywide.

“This issue requires joint efforts. It is very critical to have substance abuse addicted young generation. The government established affordable and accessible centers from health center level to the hospital level, such as Huye-Isange Rehabilitation Center, we request Rwandans to be activist and not keep quiet. We have many rehabilitation centers to offer special treatment.” Ndacyayisenga said.

Research conducted in 2012 by the Ministry of Youth and University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences, stated that more than 50 per cent of youth consumed one or more drugs, 4.8 per cent were hooked on cannabis, and 7.6 per cent on alcohol.

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