Escalating drug abuse sparks debate on effectiveness of punitive measures

Lhakpa Quendren

Phuentsholing—The government’s efforts to address the growing drug crisis in the country through stricter laws and mandatory treatment programmes are coming under scrutiny, as the approach fails to tackle the root causes of substance abuse.

During the two-day Community-Led Advocacy Network (CLAN) Summit 2025, held in Phuentsholing, participants highlighted how punitive policies have fueled fear and isolation among individuals struggling with addiction.

Chithuen Phendhey Association with support from Save the Children Bhutan organised the summit, which concluded on January 10. Some 25 representatives from seven districts with lived experience of Substance Use Disorder attended the summit.

Participants said the current approach is fueling a cycle of crime and addiction, rather than reducing drug abuse. “The strict laws are not helping us. They are only making us more afraid and isolated. We need support, not punishment,” said Pema Dorji, a representative from Gelephu.

Policy gaps and call for actions

Despite stricter laws and increased enforcement, drug-related issues remain high, with 9,552 drug abuse cases recorded from 2018 to 2023, and 1,512 cases reported last year alone—though this was a slight decrease of 59 from the previous year.

The representatives, who have formally organised as Recovery Allies for Bhutan (RAB Bhutan), called for an urgent shift from punitive measures to a more compassionate, evidence-based approach, prioritising health-centered methods.

They said the failure of the current drug policy and demand reduction strategy.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reported a staggering 214 percent increase in drug and substance abuse cases compared to the previous year, indicating that punitive measures alone are not solving the problem, according to the participants.

The participants also stressed the need to involve individuals with lived experiences in policy-making and programme design to ensure practical and effective solutions.

The systemic gaps that cause unnecessary mental distress, such as requiring individuals caught for drug use to attend SUD classes in distant districts, have added financial and logistical burdens.

The summit identified critical gaps in the country’s drug policies and systems, including the lack of a holistic approach that addresses social, economic, and psychological factors, such as unemployment, lack of education, and mental health issues, as contributors to drug abuse.

The recommendations from the summit will be submitted to the government and relevant offices.

Representatives from Thimphu, Paro, and southern border towns reported a daily rise in heroin (brown sugar) use, which shows a shift from previous trends of Spasmo-Proxyvon and marijuana.

Participants said there is no effective demand reduction strategy for this new trend, leaving communities vulnerable.

The summit also raised concerns about a recent heroin bust at Paro Airport and growing targeting of Bhutan by international drug networks.

Tshering Wangchuk, a representative from Samdrupjongkhar, said that the rise in harder drugs like heroin is alarming. “Our authorities are unaware of these ground realities, and our health workers and relevant personnel are unprepared to handle it. Soon, we could face a heroin epidemic, and our communities will suffer. We need urgent action,” he added.

Participants suggested proactive responses, including training health workers on overdose prevention, ensuring Naloxone availability, and raising awareness about the risks of harder drugs.

Insufficient rehabilitation centres, outpatient SUD classes, counselling services, lack of user-friendly processes, collaboration with community organisations, and the absence of aftercare and reintegration programmes all contribute to high relapse rates.

“There are huge service gaps and delays. All services are centralised in Thimphu and are not user-friendly,” said the representative from Thimphu. “It is clear to everyone that there are no services like aftercare and social reintegration.”

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