Drug abuse rampant, parents request more rehabs – DEA
Pini Bothoko | Monday September 8, 2025 15:43
With widespread drug and substance abuse continuing to grip Botswana, the nation is staring at a growing crisis that threatens its youth, families, and communities.
In an interview with Mmegi this week, Director General of the DEA, Phemelo Ramakorwane, painted a gloomy picture of the state of drug use and abuse in the country, highlighting consumption trends, smuggling methods, and the urgent need for collective action.
In fact, he revealed that at nearly every anti-drug campaign conducted nationwide, parents’ most pressing request has been for rehabilitation services to be made more accessible. This underscores the growing desperation amongst families battling drug-related challenges.
Commenting on the most commonly abused drugs in Botswana, Ramakorwane said the list of substances circulating is growing increasingly dangerous, and among the abused are dagga/cannabis popularly known as marijuana, meth-cathinone (popularly known as CAT), crack cocaine popularly known as (Madaena), methamphetamine, crystal met,h and heroin. He said of these, cannabis, meth-cathinone, and crack cocaine top the list as the most prevalent among users.
According to the DEA, no major changes in overall drug consumption patterns have been observed in recent years. However, the agency warned that young people remain the most affected demographic, particularly unemployed male youth.
Ramokorwane further disclosed that research under the Botswana National Drug Control Master Strategy (BNDCMS) found that unemployment makes the youth vulnerable, with many turning to drugs as a form of escape from life’s pressures.
Geographically, Ramakorwane stated that drug use is most prevalent in urban areas, such as Gaborone, Francistown, and Jwaneng, as well as in semi-urban centers like Mahalapye, Palapye, and Letlhakane. He further stated that border villages and tourist destinations, including Maun and Kasane, are also increasingly affected.
“Entertainment establishments and institutions of learning have been identified as key hotspots for drug dealings, a worrying trend that places both students and recreational seekers at high risk of exposure,” Ramakorwane said
The DEA points to socio-economic pressures as some of the root causes of drug abuse. The agency highlighted that high unemployment rates push many young people into despair, while the lack of recreational facilities in towns and villages leaves them idle and vulnerable.
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” the agency observed, stressing the need for positive engagement alternatives for the youth.
Addressing drug smuggling routes, Ramakorwane said Botswana’s geographical position and porous borders make it an attractive route for traffickers. He said drugs are smuggled through both gazetted and ungazetted entry points, hidden in haulage trucks, false compartments in private and hired vehicles, or even body padding. He added that large luggage bags also serve as common concealment methods.
Despite ongoing efforts to fight drug use, the DEA admits that significant hurdles hinder the fight against drug abuse, pointing out that, amongst other challenges, lack of detection technology and capabilities, shortage of skilled personnel, and the country’s vast and porous borders remain a big challenge.
Furthermore, Ramakorwane said the repercussions of drug abuse are being felt across education, health, and crime sectors. He said that according to the Botswana National Drug Control Master Strategy of 2025–2029, drug use contributes to rising crime rates, mental health challenges, and declining academic performance.
He added that although comprehensive research is yet to be conducted, anecdotal evidence suggests a strong link between drug abuse and violent crimes such as gender-based violence (GBV) and assault.
“To address this crisis, Botswana has developed the NDCMS of 2025–2029, which outlines a multi-pronged approach, including public awareness campaigns, school-based interventions, enhanced law enforcement collaboration, community participation in anti-drug efforts, intelligence-led operations, and stronger border management and regional and international cooperation,” he said.
The DEA emphasizes that while strategies exist, more needs to be done to match the scale of the crisis. He said there should be development of school and workplace drug policies, expanded public education and awareness initiatives, implementation of evidence-based interventions, and exploring alternatives to imprisonment for drug-related offences.
Meanwhile, the DEA delivered a strong message to both young people and communities, calling for the youth to say no to drugs.
“To the youth, the advice is simple: 'Don’t do drugs. If you have started using, stop and seek help. To communities, I urge everyone to report any suspected drug dealings or usage in their areas, as tackling the crisis requires collective vigilance,” he said.
As Botswana braces itself for the launch of the National Drug Control Master Strategy, the DEA’s message is clear: drug abuse is not only a law enforcement issue but also a social and economic one. Without urgent, coordinated action, the nation risks losing more of its young generation to the grip of addiction.
Last year government mounted an all-inclusive assault to declare a war on drugs, with P41 million set aside for the DEA, which was established in 2023.
The Agency is mandated to collect, collate, and disseminate information on illegal use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Moreover, the DEA is authorised to receive, investigate any complaint of alleged or suspected breach of the Act and address and advise government ministries and departments, public bodies, institutions, companies, statutory bodies and corporations on ways and means of preventing prohibited activities relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.