Bangladesh is facing a mounting public health crisis as new research reveals that a staggering 92% of the country’s 8.2 million drug users began using substances during their formative years.
The trend, characterized by high rates of addiction among adolescents and young adults, raises urgent warnings from medical experts over long-term national health and productivity.
The study, conducted jointly by Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and Research and Management Consultants Limited, shows that approximately 4.88% of the total population—roughly 8.2 million people—now consume illegal substances.
Of them, 33% started substance use between ages 8 and 17, while 59% began between 18 and 25. The findings indicate that drug use is increasingly concentrated among adolescents and young adults—a demographic vital to the nation’s physical, mental, and economic growth.
Early exposure, lasting damage
Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, adviser to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), warned that substance abuse during these critical developmental periods can cause irreversible damage.
“Adolescence and early adulthood are crucial for brain development and organ health,” Husain told TIMES.
“Drug exposure can impair sensory and cognitive functions, and vital organs like the liver and kidneys, ultimately reducing the country’s physical capacity and economic productivity.”
BMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Shahinul Alam echoed these concerns, calling addiction a nationwide threat. “It is wrong to assume only a few people are at risk. Our children and communities are all vulnerable. Society must unite and act consciously to confront this challenge,” he said.
Youth, curiosity, and coping
Psychologists point to the social and emotional drivers behind early drug use. Faysal Ahmed Rafi, founder and chief psychologist of Mindwizz, noted that adolescents often turn to drugs as a “primitive coping mechanism” in unstable family or social environments. Without proper emotional support, curiosity can quickly turn into dependency.
Prevalent drugs and financial toll
The study found marijuana to be the most widely used substance, with 6.08 million users, followed by methamphetamine (Yaba) at 2.29 million and alcohol at 2.02 million. Other substances include heroin, codeine-based syrups, and inhalants.
Drug use also imposes a heavy financial burden: the average user spends about Tk 6,000 per month, straining household incomes amid ongoing economic challenges. Despite enforcement, 90% of users reported that drugs remain easily accessible.
In response, Md Hasan Maruf, Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), announced plans to step up anti-narcotics operations ahead of national events.
Lack of treatment and social stigma
Perhaps most alarming is the scarcity of support for users seeking help. While over half of users want to quit, only 13% have ever received formal treatment. The study found that 69% of users cite medical care as their most urgent need, followed by counseling (62%) and employment assistance (41%).
Social stigma remains the biggest barrier, with 68% of respondents avoiding rehabilitation due to fear of family or community judgment.
Experts are calling for a paradigm shift in addressing addiction. Mohammad Mushtuq Husain urged society to view drug users as patients, not criminals, emphasizing that reintegration is a collective responsibility.
The consensus among health and policy experts is that long-term success requires an integrated approach—combining strict enforcement, mental health care, and mass awareness campaigns—to protect Bangladesh’s youth and safeguard the nation’s future productivity.
