By Ndey Ceesay
Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. One of the key impacts of illicit drug use on society is the negative health consequences experienced by its members.
Drug use also puts a heavy financial burden on individuals, families and society, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The evolution of the complex global illicit drug problem is clearly driven by a range of factors. Sociodemographic trends are influential such as the population’s gender, age and the rate of urbanization.
Limited awareness about the risks and consequences of substance abuse may contribute to experimentation among youth.
WHY DOES YOUTH ENEGAGE SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
In The Gambia, there are a lot of factors that contributes youth engagement in substance abuse, icluding but not limited to the following:
- Unemployment
- Peer Pressure
- Lack of Parental Control
- Media Influence
- Lack of Education
- Curiosity
- Availability, Accessibility and Affordability
- Family Environment
IS SUSBTANACCE ABUSE A PROBLEM IN THE GAMBIA?
In March 2024, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) revealed that 539 Gambians were arrested with drugs in 2023, and a total of 623 cases involving 633 accused persons were registered, out of which 539 are Gambian nationals and the remaining 94 are non-Gambians.
The agency disclosed that the various drugs include heroin, methamphetamine, clonazepam, ecstasy, tramadol, and diazepam, according to The Standard.
| 2022 | 2023 | |
| Drug Cases | 632 | 623 |
| Drug-related Arrests | 650 | 633 |
| 2022 | 2023 | |
| Gambians Arrested | 563 | 539 |
| Non-Gambians Arrested | 87 | 94 |
| Non-Gambians Arrested | 2022 | 2023 |
| Senegalese | 51 | 33 |
| Bissau-Guineans | 7 | |
| Guineans | 4 | |
| Nigerians | 9 | |
| Sierra Leoneans | 10 | 34 |
| British | 3 | |
| American | 1 | |
| Turkish | 1 | |
| Spanish | 1 | |
| Congolese (DR Congo) | 1 |
Twenty-five (25) of those arrested in connection with drugs which represents 4% of the total number of arrests are below the age of 18; with 74% of those arredted (466 in total) are between the ages of 18 to 35; and 142 of those arresteed (22%) are above the age of 35.
“Of the total, 612 are males representing 97% of the total number of the people taken into custody, while female arrestees were 21, representing 3%,” according to the NDLEAG 2023 report.
In The Gambia, cannabis sativa remains the most commonly abused illicit drug. Individuals of varying ages and economic class abuse it, due to its availability, accessibilitry and affordability. Moreover, other forms of controlled and prohibited drugs like cocaine, heroin, clonazepam, diazepam, bronazepam are also abused.
According to the report from then Gambia Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Most of the cannabis sativa found in The Gambia comes from the Cassamance region of Senegal and the West coast region of The Gambia – although it is grown in diverse places across the country.
EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSSE ON YOUTH
Substance-abusing youth often are alienated and stigmatized by their peers.
Adolescents using alcohol and other drugs also often disengage from school and community activities, depriving their peers and communities of the positive contributions they might otherwise have made. Substance use disorder can lead to short- and long-term negative health effects. These can be physical and mental, ranging from moderate to severe.
The abuse of alcohol and other drugs by youth may result in family crises and jeopardize many aspects of family life, sometimes resulting in family dysfunction. Both siblings and parents are profoundly affected by alcohol- and drug-involved youth.
Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the negative long-term effects of substance use, including mental health illnesses, sub-par academic performance, substance use disorders, and higher chances of getting addicted to alcohol and marijuana.
There are a range of physical effects associated with substance abuse. These effects can vary depending on the person, their overall health, the drug, how often the drug is taken, and how long the misuse continues.
Potential effects of drug misuse on the body include:
- Blood vessel infection
- Involuntary weight lose
- Heart attack
- Collapse vein
- Hormonal imbalance
- Lung damage
- Liver disease
- Stroke
GAMBIA’S CURRENT LAW ON DRUG SUSTANCE ABUSE
The anti-narcotics unit now known as the Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a unit with the mandate to enforce all drug laws and regulations of The Gambia and bring perpetrators to justice as well as initiate and support programmes aimed at reducing the availability of illicit/controlled drugs in the domestic and international markets.
The abuse of prohibited drugs is criminilised in The Gambia and offenders could face fines or jail terms or both.
See some of the laws or provisions that prohibit substance abuse here.
