The National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), the Rwanda National Police, and the Ministry of Health began a 10-day awareness campaign on June 16, 2025, with the goal of preventing and combatting drug usage and its effects. The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which will be observed on June 26, 2025, is being marked in part by this campaign.
The campaign started with a news conference when representatives from the participating institutions emphasized the ongoing harm that drugs are causing to families under the theme “Fighting against Drug Abuse is Everyone’s Responsibility.”
Everyone has a part to play in the fight against drug use, according to Prof. Darius Gishoma, Division Manager of the Mental Health department of the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).
“Every part of the body, including the brain, liver, stomach, and heart, is impacted,” he said. These organs are all affected. Because of this, prevention is our main message, and we are asking everyone to work more.
Drug usage impedes Rwanda’s growth since many individuals stop engaging in constructive activities that could sustain their livelihoods, according to Fred Mufulukye, Director General of the NRS.
“Some have dropped out of school,” he said. There are currently 521 people in recovery facilities who were expelled from school because they abused alcohol. 776 more people were dismissed for using drugs. We also have 861 people in recovery facilities who lost their jobs as a result of heavy drinking and drug usage. 846 more people lost their jobs as a result of drug use.
ACP Boniface Rutikanga, a spokesman for the Rwanda National Police, warned that drugs not only hurt users but also cost the country money.
“Drugs also harm the nation’s human capital, especially the youth who use them most frequently,” he said. To avoid drug misuse, we want to increase awareness among young people and all Rwandans, which is why the police and other organizations fight hard to combat it.
Since the start of 2025, police have discovered 2,073 drug-related offenses, resulting in the arrest of 683 people, including traffickers, transporters, and users, according to ACP Rutikanga.
RBC reports that during the 2023–2024 timeframe, 3,129 individuals sought medical attention for severe health issues brought on by drug addiction. According to the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), 6,215 people are presently receiving treatment for substance addiction at its four rehabilitation facilities nationwide.