At a two-day CLAN Summit 2025, 25 representatives from seven districts voiced concerns about the current approach to the drug crisis, criticizing the Bhutanese government’s response, which includes tougher laws and mandatory treatment programs, for not addressing the underlying causes of substance abuse. In order to address drug-related issues, a group of representatives called RAB Bhutan has called for a change from punitive measures to a more compassionate, evidence-based approach. Compared to the prior year, the Office of the Attorney General reported a 214% increase in drug and substance abuse cases. During the summit, significant weaknesses in the nation’s drug policies and systems were noted, such as the absence of a comprehensive strategy to address the psychological, social, and economic aspects of drug abuse.
The government and pertinent offices will receive the summit’s recommendations. In contrast to prior trends of marijuana and Spasmo-Proxyvon, representatives from southern border towns, Thimphu, and Paro reported a daily increase in the use of brown sugar. Concerns regarding a recent heroin bust at Paro Airport and the increasing targeting of Bhutan by global drug networks were also brought up at the summit. Proactive solutions were proposed by the participants, such as educating healthcare professionals about the dangers of harder drugs, making sure naloxone is available, and training them on overdose prevention.