May 11, 2026
THIMPHU – Family problems and weak support systems at home remain among the main drivers behind the rise in substance abuse among Bhutanese children, according to Education and Skills Development Minister Yeezang De Thapa.
The government is intensifying efforts to address growing drug use among school-going youth through school interventions, parental engagement, and collaboration with law enforcement.
The concern comes amid increasing cases of drug use among adolescents, with records showing that more than half of all drug-related arrests in recent years involved individuals below the age of 24, including children as young as 13 to 16 years.
Responding to questions on measures being taken to build a drug-free society during the Meet-the-Press session yesterday, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said the issue must be viewed beyond statistics, stressing that each case reflects deeper personal and social struggles involving children, families and communities.
The ministry has identified family instability and the absence of meaningful emotional support as major risk factors pushing young people towards substance use, prompting a shift in strategy from disciplinary action to prevention, compassion and early intervention.
As part of this approach, the ministry has developed and implemented the School Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which includes eight wellbeing programmes across schools.
Among them, the Mentor-Mentee Programme is being positioned as an important tool to strengthen emotional support for students.
Under the programme, teachers take on mentoring roles to build trust with students and provide guidance, aiming to reduce feelings of isolation and vulnerability that can lead to substance abuse.
The approach reflects growing recognition that schools are increasingly being asked to address emotional and social problems that often originate within families.
Beyond schools, the ministry has expanded efforts to involve parents more directly through the Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) initiative, launched with support from UNICEF.
The programme equips parents with practical skills, including active listening and communication techniques, to help them engage more openly with their children.
It is currently being implemented in 168 schools identified as having students at higher risk.
The ministry’s partnership with the Royal Bhutan Police also forms a major part of the strategy.
In addition to counselling sessions conducted by school counsellors, police officers are involved in advocacy programmes to educate students on both the health consequences and legal implications of drug use.
By positioning teachers, parents and law enforcement as shared stakeholders, the ministry is attempting to address substance abuse as a broader social challenge rather than an individual failure.
However, as youth drug cases continue to rise, the effectiveness of these interventions will depend largely on how consistently families, schools and communities can work together to rebuild trust, connection and resilience among vulnerable children.