Drugs Are Taking Our Youths Away : Ensuring Inclusion of Substance Use Disorder Management in the Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon

Substance use and substance use disorder are a public health problem in Cameroon, posing a significant threat to adolescents’ health and hindering the attainment of their full potential in future.

The prevalence of substance use and substance use disorder is high among young people in Cameroon. In 2023, reports from addiction treatment centers revealed that 17.2% of addiction cases were adolescents aged under 19, while 34% were young adults aged between 20 and 24. Within secondary schools, 1 out 4 students consume drugs; meanwhile 6 out of 10 street children have consumed drugs.

• In 2023, 19 existing addiction treatment centers had 1,719 adolescents under treatment and 420 in the first quarter of 2024. Access to the treatment centers is still a challenge due to care costs.

• Untreated addiction has long-term costs for society, including healthcare expenses borne by individuals, households and the health system, lost productivity, and increased law enforcement and judicial system burdens. Extending Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for addiction services could be more cost-effective by promoting early intervention and reducing these downstream costs.

• Including addiction treatment under UHC would ensure equitable access regardless of socioeconomic status, aligning with the principles of UHC to leave no one behind.

• The fight against drug abuse and addiction concerns every strand of Cameroonian society. Incorporating this treatment of addiction cases in the UHC program of Cameroon will be timely as it could reduce the prevalence by up to 38.4%