Youth in Bhutan are increasingly turning to substance abuse, with one in five teens aged 13 to 17 admitting to using marijuana, a new survey has revealed.

Drug Abuse

Posted by AI on 2025-09-08 14:09:11 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-08 18:06:19

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The findings, released by the Bhutan Health Assessment and Nutrition Survey, revealed that one in ten youth consumed alcohol weekly, while one in twenty tried tobacco weekly.

The survey highlighted that the prevalence of substance abuse was highest in Thimphu and Punakha, with nearly one in two youth surveyed reporting alcohol consumption in the previous year.

Additionally, the findings revealed that one in five Bhutanese youth surveyed had engaged in binge drinking in the previous month.

The prevalence of substance abuse among Bhutan's youth is a cause for concern, with experts saying that it could lead to more serious drug use in adulthood and contribute to mental health issues among young people.

The situation is exacerbated by the country's growing tourism industry, which is often cited as a factor in the increase of youth drug abuse.

In response to the findings, officials at the Bhutan Ministry of Health said that they would be implementing a range of measures to tackle the problem, including strengthening alcohol and tobacco control policies and increasing public awareness campaigns.

They also plan to improve the availability and quality of substance abuse treatment services and to include mental health and substance abuse services in the country's primary healthcare system.

The Minister for Health, Dechen Wangmo, said that the ministry would continue to work towards creating a holistic environment to support the mental well-being of Bhutan's youth.

"We are committed to improving the overall well-being of our youth by addressing the risk factors associated with substance abuse and creating a supportive environment that promotes their mental and emotional health," she said.

Let's hope these measures will lead to a decline in substance abuse amongst youth in Bhutan.

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