Ministry of Public Security to set up national detoxification center

Cannabis, heroin, cocaine and chicha are some of the drugs that jeopardize the promising future of many young Burundians. Drug consumption is hard to eradicate, said Valentin Havyarimana, chairman of the Burundian Association for a World of Peace without Drugs (ABMPD) on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day against the Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking this June 26.

Alain Guillaume Bunyoni: “Burundi will spare no effort to eradicate the consumption of drugs”

Based on the information collected from victims by psychologists on behalf of ABMPD, Havyarimana says some people get involved in drug consumption for three main causes namely imitating others in “ligalas”(informal meeting places), or identifying with a star who takes drugs.
He says other young people use narcotics due to family problems. “They want to relieve stress after unpleasant events they have gone through.” He also mentions “illusions of feeling deep pleasure by taking drugs” for some.

For this civil society activist, the use of drugs has severe impacts on society. Drug users are the first victims. “There are mainly students who drop out because taking drugs is often incompatible with school activities.”

He also says the consumption of drugs affects the society. According to Valentin Havyarimana, the development of the country is not spared arguing that various employees who are victims of narcotics do not go about their activities as per normal.

Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public Security and Disaster Management, says the government has found that drugs consumption is an obstacle to the health and safety of Burundians. “Burundi government will spare no effort to eradicate the consumption of illegal drugs,” he said adding that Burundi would join forces with other countries to achieve this goal.
For him, the government is ready to support any initiative to put an end the use of drugs. “The government plans to set up a national detoxification center to provide medical treatment to the victims, and their reintegration into the society.