The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has announced that in the past six months, 778 people have been arrested for drug-related offenses, with 114 of them being under the age of 20.
Rwanda Police Spokesperson, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, shared this information during an interview on the morning program “Waramutse Rwanda,” which aired on RBA on Thursday, June 26.
He highlighted that drug abuse among the youth is a serious issue in Rwanda and “cuts across all categories – boys and girls, the rich and the poor, the young and the old – all are affected by the drug problem.” CIP Wellars Gahonzire, Spokesperson of the Police in the City of Kigali, also shared this information on Radio O’s morning program “The O Breakfast.”
“In the six-month period from January to June 14, the Police had arrested 778 individuals. Out of these, 234 were involved in drug trafficking and distribution. These individuals have been prosecuted. The remaining 544 were apprehended for drug use.
For these individuals, the priority is often treatment and rehabilitation rather than incarceration, as their condition often requires medical intervention rather than legal punishment,” stated the Police.
Out of the 778 arrested individuals, 114 were under the age of 20, 358 were between 21 and 30 years old, 209 were between 31 and 40, and 97 were above 41. It is clear that drug use is most prevalent among the youth.
The Rwanda Police noted that some drug users require rehabilitation, while others have reached a point where they need treatment for mental health conditions. There are also cases where users inject drugs into their bodies, causing severe bodily harm.
“Some of them end up destroying the veins in their arms, and even try to inject in their necks, resulting in multiple wounds. At that stage, if they don’t get access to drugs, they may lose their minds and become desperate for another dose to feel normal again.”
The Rwanda Police emphasized that drug trafficking and distribution are crimes punishable by law. However, drug users often become dependent and need the substance constantly, leading them to buy it at any cost. This dependency often drives them to find money at any cost, and when they can’t, it results in theft and other crimes such as assault, job loss, and family conflicts.
A significant number of patients at Caraes Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital are youth. According to statistics from the hospital, from July 2022 to June 2023, 663 young people under the age of 19 were treated for mental health issues related to alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Meanwhile, 1,579 patients were aged between 20 and 39.
Peer pressure and social influence are among the main factors pushing some youth into alcohol and drug abuse.
A 2022 study by the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) revealed that the percentage of Rwandans who consume alcohol increased by 6.8% over the past nine years, with 48.1% of the population reportedly drinking alcohol.
The same data shows that 34% of Rwandan women drink alcohol, compared to 61.9% of men. However, the number of people who drink excessively and get drunk has decreased by 8% over the past nine years, from 23.5% to 15.2%.
