Innocent Bugingo, a 30-year-old, spent 14 years battling alcohol and drug addiction, a struggle that strained his relationship with his family and put his future at risk. Bugingo started drinking at the age of 14 while in Senior One while in a boarding school. Initially, he was like any other child, focusing on his studies and pursuing his dream of a meaningful life. But in Senior Two, some of his friends began using marijuana, and out of curiosity, he tried it. He used marijuana for two to three years before being introduced to heroin. He later began using cigarettes and crystal methamphetamine. He continued using heroin until he was 28, while also drinking alcohol throughout those years. ALSO READ: Illicit alcohol left me blind, took my wife's life – Ruhango man At school, Bugingo and his friends would pool their pocket money to buy cheap gin, the only alcohol they could afford. Because drinking was prohibited, they would sneak out to buy it. He later upgraded to much leathal liquors, which he said would “kill me quickly”. “I was a disciplined child and focused on my studies, but when I started drinking, my behaviour changed. I started coming home late and reeking of alcohol. My father would punish me. At first, I was expected to be home by 7 p.m., but I kept breaking the curfew. He kept changing the time, trying to find a way to make me comply,” Bugingo said. As his addiction worsened, his parents sought help for him. They first took him to Icyizere Psychotherapeutic Centre in Kicukiro, where he received daily medication, but he said his condition did not improve. In 2023, they took him to Huye Isange Rehabilitation Centre, where he spent three months undergoing detoxification and receiving daily psychological support. “I was imprisoned for using heroin. Many people had already given up on me, including friends and relatives. But my family stood by me. They kept checking on me during my time in rehabilitation,” he said. After three months at the rehabilitation centre, Bugingo returned home but later relapsed, gradually returning to alcohol and drug use. About eight months later, he was arrested and imprisoned at Mageragere Prison, where he spent a year. Turning point Bugingo said his turning point came in prison in 2024, when he received began a spiritual journey as a devout Christian. He said quitting alcohol gave him a renewed sense of joy and helped him experience life sober after years of addiction. ALSO READ: The cheap bottle is no bargain when our children’s future is at stake “At the age of 14, I lost my dreams, but I have now started dreaming again. I talk to my friends about my experience, and some of them reach out to me to ask how I managed to overcome addiction. I tell them that when you are sober, you solve problems differently. Alcohol is just a temporary escape,” he said. He later started an initiative called Saved to Serve, through which he visits schools to share his experience and encourage young people to avoid substance abuse. Although he says he is still rebuilding his life, recovery has brought him closer to his family. The first-born of four children, Bugingo said his parents are now happier than they have been in years. He is also reaching out to young people in rehabilitation centres to explore ways of supporting them. How alcohol misuse affects families Alcohol abuse is among the key factors destabilising Rwandan families, according to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF). A survey found that 82.8 per cent of respondents identified alcoholism as a root cause of family-related challenges, including conflict, violence and divorce. Dr Jeannette Nyirabahizi, a psychiatrist at Icyizere Psychotherapeutic Centre, a specialised mental health and addiction treatment facility located in Kicukiro District, said alcohol misuse can affect family finances, relationships, security and mental health. “When a parent abuses alcohol, money that should go towards school fees, food and other family responsibilities ends up being spent on such. As a result, children can suffer because their basic needs are not met,” she said, adding that this eventually breaks families. She said alcohol misuse can also contribute to aggression and conflict in the home. “Most people who misuse alcohol tend to become aggressive, and this sometimes lead to abuse of their wives or children. They may also damage or sell household property,” Nyirabahizi said. She added that alcohol misuse by a mother can affect the entire family, given her role in caring for children and managing the household. Children who misuse alcohol can also create financial difficulties for their parents, particularly when they have no income. “Most of the time, these are children who do not have jobs, so you have to ask where they get the money to buy alcohol. They may take or sell things belonging to the family, such as shoes, a computer used for studying or a telephone,” she said. Some children may also use money intended for school fees to buy alcohol, forcing parents to meet the expenses again. Living with a family member who misuses alcohol can also affect relatives’ mental health, she said, with some developing sleep problems, anxiety and depression. Nyirabahizi said there is no completely risk-free level of alcohol consumption, although recommendations exist for moderate consumption because alcohol is legally available. These include about 250 millilitres of beer, 100 millilitres of wine or 30 millilitres of spirits. She urged people struggling with alcohol dependence or addiction to seek professional help, which is available at different levels of Rwanda’s health system, starting with health centres. Patients whose needs cannot be managed at health-centre level can be referred to district hospitals, where mental health nurses and clinical psychologists provide further care. Those requiring specialised addiction treatment can be referred to rehabilitation facilities. “Some people who become dependent on alcohol have experienced trauma from different situations, including the genocide, family problems or difficulties at work. They may turn to alcohol to calm themselves or help them sleep, but they need to consult a doctor or go to a health facility, where they can be assessed and referred to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for help,” Nyirabahizi said.
