Lesotho fights drug crisis
Experts urge open dialogue, investment in prevention on World Drug Day
LINEO MALATALIANA
MASERU – Local health advocates and government officials marked World Drug Day with an urgent call to invest in prevention programs, highlighting drug abuse’s devastating toll on Lesotho’s health and economy.
Sunrise Rehabilitation Centre, Leaders of Change Initiatives, and the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) hosted an open dialogue Tuesday under the theme “The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention.”
The event featured medical experts, policymakers, and community leaders discussing solutions to the nation’s substance abuse crisis.
Psychiatric Nurse, Refiloe ‘Moto of Mohlomi Mental Hospital, detailed how drugs hijack the brain.
“Abuse floods the brain with dopamine – a chemical tied to pleasure and motivation – damaging the frontal cortex,” she explained.
This damage can trigger psychosis, causing hallucinations and irrational behaviour. “Users become dependent just to feel normal,” ‘Moto added.
Behind these urgent calls lies a severely strained rehabilitation infrastructure. Lesotho has few dedicated treatment facilities, with Sunrise Rehabilitation Centre standing as one of the country’s only major inpatient centres. Experts note critical shortages of psychiatrists, counsellors, and funding, forcing many families to rely on costly private care or informal community support.
“Our waiting lists grow daily, yet resources remain stagnant,” admitted Sekhoane Kolobe of Sunrise.
The WHO estimates Africa has just 1.4 mental health workers per 100 000 people, underscoring the regional scale of the workforce gap. Overcrowding and limited aftercare programs contribute to high relapse rates, trapping individuals in cycles of addiction.
The dialogue underscored a critical link between rampant youth unemployment and addiction.
“Hopelessness fuels this crisis,” said Chaba Mokuku, Project Manager of the government’s Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project (CAFI). He confirmed funds are being redirected toward youth job creation, calling events like this “vital for influencing policy and showing support to those struggling.”
Sekhoane Kolobe stressed the economic stakes: “Every person lost to addiction is an unfilled job. But every cent invested in prevention saves lives, boosts productivity, and strengthens communities.”
He framed the dialogue as a “call to action,” urging investment in “Lesotho’s future – valuing our people as builders of tomorrow.”
Nthabiseng Makhaba, founder of Leaders of Change, tied the effort to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (health and wellbeing).
“Addiction isn’t a one-man show. Communities must unite,” she urged, emphasizing that “prevention, treatment, and future planning demand collective effort.”
The event concluded with a unified message: combating Lesotho’s drug epidemic requires sustained investment in prevention, expanded rehabilitation capacity, and cross-sector collaboration.
