About 7 per cent of young people in Rwanda are struggling with alcohol dependence, according to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), which has raised concern over increasing substance abuse among the youth.
Antoine Hagenimana, an official from RBC’s Mental Health Division, revealed the figures during the General Assembly of Youth Volunteers held in Kigali on Friday, July 31, 2026.
The meeting focused on addressing challenges affecting young people, including drug abuse, consumption of substandard alcoholic beverages, youth misconduct and promoting responsible behaviour.
Hagenimana warned that alcohol and drug use at an early age can increase the risk of addiction, explaining that the human brain continues developing until around the age of 24.
“Using alcohol and other drugs before the age of 24 can lead to dependence and make someone develop a constant desire to use them,” he said.
He said alcohol dependence affects about 1.6 per cent of Rwanda’s general population, while the rate among young people is estimated at 7 per cent.
Hagenimana also disclosed that between 3,000 and 4,000 young people are involved in the use of injectable drugs, a practice that increases the risk of contracting HIV and other health complications.
“Beyond damaging health, this practice contributes to the spread of HIV, especially when the same needle is shared by multiple users,” he said.
The health official further warned about the dangers of consuming substandard alcoholic beverages, many of which contain methanol, a toxic chemical that can have severe effects on human health.
He said methanol-contaminated drinks can damage brain function, cause blindness, increase the risk of digestive system cancers and lead to death in severe cases.
Hagenimana urged youth volunteers to take an active role in preventing substance abuse and raising awareness about the dangers of unsafe alcoholic beverages within their communities.
Recent figures show that more than 3,000 young people have undergone rehabilitation programmes after developing problems linked to excessive drug use.
Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other substances remain among the commonly abused drugs among young people, with health authorities warning of their long-term effects on physical and mental wellbeing.
