Legal context
Many African drug laws still rely on criminal penalties inherited from older control frameworks, while reform debates increasingly centre public health, prison overcrowding and human rights.
Health response (HRI 2024)
Harm Reduction International (2024) reports at least one operational service in Burundi: needle & syringe programmes, opioid agonist therapy. National policy documents include an explicit supportive reference to harm reduction.
Youth leadership
Young advocates are pushing for honest drug education, non-punitive school policies and meaningful participation in national drug strategy processes.
Prohibitionist framework; youth-led reform advocacy.
Drug policy briefing
What young people should know about drug policy in Burundi
Decriminalisation
CriminalisedPossession and use of controlled drugs are criminal offences under national narcotics law with custodial penalties.
Evidence · Burundi Narcotics Law; UNODC country profile.
Harm Reduction
Very limitedFormal harm reduction services are minimal; community outreach is emerging through youth-led networks.
Evidence · SSDP Burundi programme data.
Youth Participation
Youth-led advocacyYouth-led organisations lead awareness raising and policy dialogue on evidence-based responses.
Evidence · SSDP Burundi; regional youth networks.
Treatment Systems
LimitedTreatment relies on a small number of specialist units and faith-based centres.
Evidence · Ministry of Public Health.
Sources · Harm Reduction International, Global State of Harm Reduction 2024 · UNODC · WHO · EMCDDA/EUDA · national laws and civil-society monitoring. Last reviewed Harm Reduction International 2024.
Start locally
No active SSDP chapter is listed for Burundi yet. Young people can start with peer education, coalition-building and the chapter starter pathway.
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Use Policy Lab to compare Burundi with countries that have decriminalisation, harm reduction or youth-participation reforms.
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