Most people who consume drugs and alcohol in Botswana are employed, and the unemployed mostly cannot afford the steep prices of drugs and alcohol.

This was revealed by Phenyo Sebonego, the Chief Health Office in the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Division department in the Ministry of Health.

Sebonego revealed that there are numerous reasons why people that abuse substances do not to look for help in the country, chief among them, unavailability of services, lack of awareness about availability of services, denial

and stigma.

Sebonego said women do not feel free to seek help as culturally it is not acceptable for them to have substance abuse problems.

He added that parenting styles can lead to children abusing substances when they are adults. Further, that the school environment, peer pressure and the workplace can also influence one to go into drugs.

Sebonego said therefore that there is need for crisis centres in Botswana as some people who are recovering from substance abuse can have relapses.

He said that the Ministry of Health is responsible for the alcohol levy and NGOs are funded every quarter from the levy.