Illicit Drugs: Increased Consumption Blamed on Humanitarian Crises

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Cameroon has reached worrisome proportions, especially in the troubled regions where drug users continue to increase on a daily basis. 

According to the country’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, drug users in these regions have risen from 10 % in 2017, 22% in 2019 to 43% in 2021.

Dr. Manaouda Malachie speaks at the press conference on illicit drugs in Yaoundé on a July 6.

He disclosed the figures at a press briefing to mark the end of commemorative activities of the 35th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking.

The socio-political crisis in the North West and South West regions, refugees from the Central African Republic in the East region and Boko Haram terrorists in the Far North region have psychologically destabilized many persons, forcing them to become drug users.

Dr. Manaouda Malachie adds that “Consequences of COVID-19 like stress, anxiety, sleep disorders and economic hardship have exposed the most vulnerable persons to excessive consumption of alcohol, tramadol, tobacco, especially chicha and other illicit drugs”.

According to the National Drugs Control Committee, 25% of Cameroonians have once consumed drugs, 10% are regular drug users and 60% of drug users are youths between the ages 18 to 25.

Drug consumption comes with serious health risks including seizures, tiredness, depression, stroke, brain damage, and damage those several body organs.

Ending drug abuse and trafficking is the primary target of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking observed yearly on June 26. This year’s commemoration had as theme, “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crisis”.

To effectively fight drug abuse and trafficking, public health authorities are calling on young people, women’s groups, teachers, religious communities, sports personalities and parents to put hands on deck to end the ill.

 

Kathy Neba Sina

Laisser un commentaire

Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec *

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur comment les données de vos commentaires sont utilisées.