The number of people seeking rehabilitation at the Chithuen Phenday Association (CPA) has increased since the pandemic hit the country. The increase is attributed to series of lockdowns in the country. It is also because most of the substance abusers could not go to India for rehabilitation due to the pandemic.
According to the association, the majority are alcohol dependents.
“Due to series of lockdown and the stress related to it, alcohol consumption has increased in most households,” said Tshewang Tenzin the association’s Executive Director.
He added that Bhutanese drink five truckloads of alcohol every day.
“We used to receive barely15 to 20 people in a month before the pandemic. Sometimes it’s just five or six. But today we have 67 people seeking rehabilitation. And these people came within three months.”
Globally, drug use and deaths from drugs have climbed at an alarming rate during the pandemic.
As per United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the pandemic has pushed millions into poverty and unemployment worldwide. This has led to an increase in substance abuse.
Samten Dolkar
