Assessing the illicit drugs used and factors influencing its use in Rwanda’’

Abstract

Even though if Illicit drugs are prohibited universally. In 2017, an estimated 271 million representing 5.5 per cent of people worldwide aged 15–64 have used drugs at least once in the previous month. In Rwanda a study done in 2015 showed a percentage of substance dependences of 7.46% for alcohol, 4.88% for nicotine and 2.54% for cannabis dependency, in teenagers and young adults. The product used by a Substance Use Disorder patient, is important to be identified so that appropriate counseling and pharmacotherapy can be offered. Unfortunately as for today the available illicit drugs on the Rwandan market are still unknown. The aim of this study was to feel the gap in addiction data by producing an exhaustive list of illicit drugs available and factors influencing their use in Rwanda. This research was conceived as qualitative study. And a survey was conducted on patients diagnosed with SUD admitted or consulting the Icyizere center. All participants used illicit drugs for at least two years and didn’t know each other before they meet in Icyizere therapeutic center. Numerus illicit drugs was identified: Marijuana, Heroin, Cocaine, benzodiazepine, Cap, LSD, Gasoline, Glue, Khat, Alcohol, 36 oiseaux …. Some of them are at high risk of overdose and some treatment are not available in Rwanda. Factors identified leading to the use of illicit drugs was mainly due to lack of accurate information on drugs in the child and teenager hoods and miss-information spread by experienced drug users on the benefits of using drugs