Drug abuse crisis grips northern Namibia

Drug abuse is rapidly rising in northern Namibia, leaving devastated families in its wake, as suppliers operate with impunity and rehabilitation efforts frequently fail to yield long-term recovery.Families in areas such as Oshakati, Ondangwa and surrounding towns are overwhelmed, with some spending tens of thousands of dollars to help loved ones fight addiction – only to see them relapse repeatedly. The emotional and financial toll is immense, with desperate families watching helplessly as their children and siblings spiral into drug dependency.“He was sitting in his Corolla car eating a burger, waiting for his payments. It was in the morning. The juices of the burger dripped off his fingers. I looked at him and then glanced at my brother, who was in my car in a mess. Recovering from drugs he had taken the previous day,” recounts *Sylvia (not her real name), the sister of a recovering addict.“Yet we are here at the service station to pick up his phone or pay off his debts to the man who supplies the drugs to him,” she remembers about a meeting with a drug dealer, her brother and her.“Unbothered. The man was enjoying his burger and licking his fingers. I felt so angry. Does he know what he’s doing to us as a family? Or he really doesn’t care and is just waiting for his money?" she says.She refused to go on camera, fearing her brother might be victimised. But she agreed to tell their story.Vicious and costly cycle Sylvia has spent more than N$100 000 on rehabilitation fees for her brother over the years, yet lasting progress remains elusive.“He does well at the centre, but once he returns and mixes with the wrong crowd again, everything collapses.”Her brother, who she says was introduced to drugs by a popular musician, has been in and out of a rehab for several years. Although each stint brings temporary improvement, he repeatedly relapses after returning to the same environment.Sylvia continues to cover debts he incurs to feed his habit, including surrendering his phone and driver’s licence to dealers in exchange for narcotics.“I can’t give up on him. He’s my brother. But sometimes I wonder if I’m helping or enabling him,” Sylvia says, tears streaming down her face.She pauses, wiping away her tears."You may ask yourself why I am crying when I can just stop funding his lifestyle and taking care of him. Maybe one day it will all get better. I am not the only one suffering; I see wives picking up their husbands from the drug house,” she says. Painful struggle Another woman, *Sandra from Ondangwa, candidly told Namibian Sun about her two-year struggle to help her 20-year-old son break free from addiction.“I have cried, prayed, even considered committing him to a psychiatric hospital,” she says. “But they say he’s not mentally ill. He is just on drugs.”She describes violent outbursts, paranoia and episodes where her son sleeps for days or harms himself.She has sought help from social workers, psychologists and hospitals – but none have provided lasting solutions.“I moved him to the village for his own safety. I even thought about prison, not because he committed a crime, but just so I could get a break. When he’s high, he threatens me, eats uncontrollably, isolates himself, and sometimes becomes violent,” Sandra says. With no rehabilitation centre available in the region, she was forced to move him to the village while she rents a house elsewhere.These personal accounts reflect a growing crisis that community leaders warn is spiralling out of control, especially among young men.The stories echo others in the region who accuse drug dealers of operating openly, some allegedly using legitimate businesses as fronts. Others allege some law enforcement officers are involved in drug use themselves, particularly in towns like Ondangwa.Alarming chaosMartha Namhadi, who runs a community-based organisation, Fighting Against Drug Use In The Communities, has called on government to urgently establish rehabilitation centres in northern Namibia.Namhadi said the escalating crisis of substance abuse, particularly among young Namibians, demands immediate attention and action.In recent months, she said the organisation has been inundated with calls from devastated parents whose children are battling addiction, desperately seeking guidance and resources to support their loved ones in recovery.Yet they are met with the stark reality that there are no rehabilitation facilities in the northern part of the country.“The situation is dire. Young people, particularly boys, are increasingly falling victim to addiction, leading to devastating consequences in their families and communities. We are witnessing alarming levels of chaos in households, with youth roaming the streets, isolating themselves, and, in some cases, contemplating suicide,” Namhadi said.She implored government to prioritise the construction of rehabilitation centres to provide much-needed support and recovery services. "In the meantime, we urge authorities to assist with referrals and bookings for those who are ready to seek help and begin their recovery journeys," she added. The organisation is committed to educating the public about the dangers of substance abuse and providing preventive measures, Namhadi noted."However, we cannot ignore the urgent needs of those who are already trapped in addiction. We call upon the ministry of health and social services and other relevant stakeholders to take immediate action. Together, we can make a difference and provide hope and healing for our youth,” she added.Drugs and booze Although Namibia is a signatory to international drug control conventions and SADC protocols, enforcement on the ground remains weak. Former health minister Kalumbi Shangula previously admitted that while Namibia was once a drug transit country, it is now facing increasing domestic usage, including among very young children.A 2019 ministry of health report found that cannabis, mandrax and crack cocaine were the most commonly used illicit substances. Use was highest among those aged 18 to 35, often in combination with alcohol.Despite WHO data showing a drop in pure alcohol consumption, from 4.24 litres per capita in 1999 to 2.38 litres in 2019, the Namibia Demographic and Health Survey shows high alcohol use persists. Three in five men and one in two women aged 15 to 49 report having consumed alcohol in their lifetime.Demanding answers Families have also raised concerns that some police officers may be involved in drug use, particularly in Ondangwa. Community members also question why known dealers are not arrested and what action the police are taking to address drug-related crime.As the crisis deepens, many say they are losing faith in both prevention and recovery systems. In the absence of meaningful intervention, families are left to bear the emotional and financial burden alone.*This story is part of a special series on drug abuse in Namibia produced by Network Media Hub / Namibian Sun. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction or in recovery, please contact us confidentially on tuyeimo@nmh-hub.com.na

Drug abuse crisis grips northern Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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Drug abuse crisis grips northern Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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