Cameroon Facing the Drug Trap: A Generation in Peril

The image of a peaceful and prosperous Cameroon fades in the face of a dark reality: drug use is plaguing its youth. With an alarming prevalence rate of 21% among school-aged youth, according to the National Drug Control Committee (CNLD), the country faces a major challenge. Far from being a marginal problem, this scourge affects hundreds of thousands of young people aged 10 to 24, jeopardizing their future and that of Cameroon as a whole. This article, based on recent statistical data and an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic context, deciphers the complex mechanisms that lead young people to drugs and explores avenues for curbing this scourge.

Cannabis drugs image from stopblablacam

1. An Alarming Statistical Reality

Data collected from the CNLD and DataCameroun reveal a worrying situation. In 2022, out of a secondary school population of 1,983,379 students, an estimated 416,510 young people are affected by drug use. This estimate, based on a prevalence of 21%, could even be revised upwards if we take into account the taboo and often hidden nature of the phenomenon. Moreover, if we widen the focus to young people aged 10 to 24, this figure reaches one million individuals (estimates based on the 2018 population pyramid). The most vulnerable age group is between 15 and 24 years old, with a peak in consumption among 15-year-olds.

2. Beyond the Numbers: Understanding the Root Causes

To grasp the complexity of this problem, it is essential to go beyond statistics and analyze the contextual factors that fuel this scourge. Four interconnected scenarios, depicting the socio-economic reality of Cameroon, provide a better understanding of the motivations of young people when it comes to drugs.

2.1. Escaping Poverty

Cameroon, despite its natural resources, is facing endemic poverty and massive youth unemployment. In this context of glaring social inequalities and lack of opportunities, drugs become a refuge, an escape from a suffocating socio-economic reality. For many young people, drugs represent a way to forget hunger, frustration and lack of a future.

2.2. The Weight of Social Disintegration

The crisis facing Cameroon is not limited to the economic aspect. The breakdown of family structures, security instability, the weakness of the education system, and social violence contribute to a climate of despair and uncertainty. In this context of loss of bearings, drugs become an outlet, a desperate attempt to find meaning in a chaotic existence.

2.3. The Illusion of Omnipotence

Paradoxically, in an environment marked by failure and disillusionment, drugs can also be associated with an image of power and transgression. Influenced by the media, social networks and a pervasive culture of performance, some young people, in search of identity and social recognition, perceive drugs as a shortcut to an illusion of success and power.

2.4. The Invisible Weapon: Destabilization through Drugs?

This last, more geopolitical scenario, hypothesizes that malicious external and internal forces could seek to destabilize Cameroon by encouraging the spread of cheap and highly addictive drugs within its territory. The objective would be to weaken the youth, destabilize the country from within and serve their own economic and geostrategic interests.

3. A Vicious Circle with Dramatic Consequences

These four scenarios, far from being mutually exclusive, are intertwined and feed off each other, creating a vicious circle from which it is difficult to escape. Poverty leads to social disintegration, which in turn fuels the illusion of omnipotence and vulnerability to manipulation. Drug use, regardless of the entry point, exacerbates all existing problems: deteriorating physical and mental health, interrupted schooling, social isolation, delinquency and crime...

Conclusion: The Urgency of Collective Awareness

The fight against drug use among young people in Cameroon is a multidimensional battle that requires collective awareness and coordinated action at all levels of society. Addressing only the effects, through repression or occasional awareness campaigns, is not enough. It is imperative to act simultaneously on all fronts:

Fighting Poverty and Inequality: Investing in education, vocational training and job creation to provide young people with a future.
Strengthening the Social Fabric: Supporting families in difficulty, promoting intergenerational dialogue and encouraging local solidarity initiatives.
Promoting Quality Education: Giving young people the keys to understanding the dangers of drugs, developing their critical thinking skills and strengthening their resilience to social pressure.
Fighting Drug Trafficking: Strengthening border controls, dismantling criminal networks and cooperating with neighboring countries to curb cross-border trafficking.

The youth of Cameroon represent the future of the country. It is our collective responsibility to protect them from the scourge of drugs and to give them the means to build a better future.

Annex: Key Findings:

The alarming statistics presented in this article are backed by concrete data. The CNLD estimates that 21% of school-aged youth in Cameroon have used drugs. Based on our calculations using data from the CNLD, DataCameroon, and the 2018 population pyramid, this translates to approximately 416,510 secondary school students and nearly one million young adults aged 10-24 engaged in drug use. This highlights the widespread nature of the problem, particularly among the most vulnerable age groups.

Further analysis of the data reveals a potential link between drug use and various socio-economic factors. For instance, the 2018 data on the Cameroonian education system indicates a significant portion of 15-24 year-olds lack complete education (10% with no formal education and 16% with incomplete primary education). This correlation between lack of education and potential drug use underscores the need to address the root causes of the problem, including poverty, inequality, and limited access to education, as highlighted in our scenarios.

Remember, these figures, while alarming, only paint a partial picture. The stigma surrounding drug use often prevents accurate data collection, suggesting the actual numbers could be even higher. This underscores the urgency of addressing this issue head-on, with a focus on both prevention and support for those affected.

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