Recent Research Highlights Troubling Trend of Youth Substance Abuse in West Nile
New research conducted at Arua Regional Referral Hospital sheds light on a concerning rise in substance use among children and adolescents in the West Nile region. The study, carried out by Ms. Annette Nyati Adriko, a Ph.D. student from Turku University of Finland, spanned from 2011 to 2022.
The research findings point to a steady increase in substance abuse-related hospitalizations over the years. In 2014, there was a 30% spike, followed by a 64% increase in 2018. This upward trend has placed significant pressure on the hospital’s 40-bed ward, initially constructed in 2005. Currently, the ward accommodates an average of 74 patients per month.
According to Nyati, substance abuse is emerging as a leading cause of mental illness and a major contributor to hospitalization among psychiatric patients. The study utilized data from 641 patients at the Psychiatric unit of Arua Regional Hospital. Notably, 3.7% of these patients were children, while 7.3% were adolescents. The youngest patient hospitalized for substance abuse was just 13 years old.
The city of Arua led with the highest number of patients admitted for substance abuse, accounting for 62% of the cases, while Maracha had a significant number of adolescent patients.
The research findings also indicate that children are initiating substance use at an early age, with a preference for substances like mairungi, opium, and alcohol. The most commonly abused substances included alcohol, Khat (Mairungi), and opium. However, local leaders disclosed that youths are now experimenting with new substances like “grey hair” and “snake scales,” as well as an emerging substance referred to as “36.”
Rev Dr. Ritha Binduru, the departmental head of the Mental Unit at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, attributed the rise in drug abuse among youths to a lack of parental monitoring, peer pressure, and excessively strict parenting. She emphasized that youth as young as six years old were beginning to smoke marijuana, resulting in detrimental effects on their cognitive abilities and overall development.
Mr. Marlon Avutia, the Mayor of Ayivu division in Arua City, concurred with the research findings, stating that the region was grappling with food insecurity due to the youth’s engagement in substance abuse instead of productive activities. He expressed concerns about the impact of drug abuse on the education system, with a rising number of school strikes.
In Arua City, it is a common sight to observe children and youths in groups, engaging in activities such as smoking marijuana and chewing mairungi from morning till late at night. Mairungi is widely cultivated in various West Nile areas, making it easily accessible and affordable for the youth.
District leaders are pinning their hopes on the government’s proposed Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill of 2023, which aims to strengthen the fight against the supply and use of illicit drugs. The bill also seeks to regulate the cultivation, transportation, possession, and usage of narcotic drugs, awaiting the President’s assent to become law.
