19 Feb 2018

The US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) advances a multifaceted and balanced approach to counternarcotics, which includes interventions like eradication, interdiction and alternative developments to robust drug addiction.

With the view to prevent and reduce drug use in society, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has partnered with United States of America Embassy through drug demand reduction initiatives.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony held at Cresta Lodge Hotel on Thursday, Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato said psychoactive substances continue to be a threat to the stability, security and health wellness of the country.

Ms Makgato said Batswana of all age groups were suffering and dying from using psychoactive substances. She added that it was not only those who were afflicted by substance use disorders who suffer, but their children, families, communities and the country at large.

“Substance abuse also carries a heavy economic cost in society. Consequences such as death, hospitalisations, loss of productivity, police, legal costs, welfare and family costs impact negatively on our economy,” she said.

She said they were also facing a challenge of new psychoactive substances coming into the country, and that it was compounded by the abuse of medications by individuals.

Ms Makgato said the availability of psychoactive substances was supported by the wider use of modern information and communication technologies including the Internet to distribute them.

She said the scale of substance abuse in the second quarter of 2017\18 was shown by the 59 patients treated for drug related conditions from July to September at Sabrana Psychiatric Hospital.

She said although substance abuse continued to be a challenge, it was possible to reverse the trend.

She said the government requires cooperation amongst stakeholders to prevent substance abuse and offering treatment and rehabilitation to substance users.

“Our response must be comprehensive, balanced and targeted. Supply reduction measures must go hand in hand with efforts to reduce demand, neither will be effective without the other. For this we need effective measures to prevent substance use and provide treatment, care and support,’’ she said.

For his part, USA ambassador to Botswana, Mr Earl Miller said he was grateful to partner with the government towards the programme Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC), as it made them identify better ways to treat people suffering from substance use disorders.

He noted that trafficking and use of drugs was an international problem which has caused harm to children, families and the nation at large.

He said it was a global problem which required progress by reducing the availability of drugs by disrupting drug trafficking organisations, controlling drug production and strengthening law enforcement efforts.

Mr Miller said implementing health responses in prevention, treatment and recovery for those suffering with substance use disorders also required progress.

He applauded Botswana for the progress made in curbing drug addiction, and also in reviving and improving the UTC and other tools for treatment and prevention.Ends