Rwanda: Experts Highlight Dangers of Early Exposure to Substance Abuse

What the report says

Experts in Rwanda are warning that early exposure to alcohol and drugs can increase the risk of later dependence, as The New Times reported in an article published on 27 September 2026. The piece centers on Sandra Mutoni, whose substance use began in secondary school and later progressed from alcohol and cannabis to heroin, alongside repeated treatment and relapse. Her experience is used to illustrate broader concerns about young people using substances to cope with stress, peer pressure and difficult home situations.

According to the report, mental health professionals in Kigali say substance abuse can begin in early adolescence and often affects people between the ages of 16 and 35. Dr. Dynamo Ndacyayisenga of Kigali Mental Health Referral Centre said starting young can make alcohol or drugs a habitual response to stress or social pressure. Elvis Benimana of Health Development Initiative added that early professional intervention improves the chances of recovery.

The article also notes that family trauma, including stress tied to Rwanda’s 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, can shape substance use patterns. Mutoni said she experienced severe emotional distress, including an attempted sexual assault by her father, before her addiction worsened. She later received rehabilitation support, counselling and medication, and eventually returned to school. The report argues that prevention, early treatment and family support remain important as Rwanda continues efforts to curb alcohol and drug abuse.