Background & History -

Most of the gold mined in Cameroon comes from small-scale and artisanal mining, not from big companies. This means that regular people, not large businesses, are the main gold producers. For example, government data shows that from 2010 to 2015, about 16,653 kg of gold was produced by artisanal miners, which is about 95% of all gold mined in the country. Much of this gold is found in the East, especially in places like Bétaré Oya and Batouri. This matters because it shows that gold mining in Cameroon is mostly done by people working in informal or semi-formal ways, often just to make a living. As a result, the gold sector is closely tied to local survival and daily life.

In the late 2000s and 2010s, the character of mining in the East changed as semi-mechanized artisanal mining expanded, meaning mining that uses machines (like excavators, shovels/loaders, pumps) and sometimes chemicals, even though artisanal mining laws were meant to limit artisanal methods to simple tools. Reporting by The World describes how Chinese operators and local partners increasingly used semi-mechanized methods that drastically altered the landscape. That report also identifies an important moment: semi-mechanized artisanal mining was conducted for the first time in Cameroon in 2007, when the government asked a South Korean company (C&K Mining) to recover gold threatened by water near the Lom Pangar Dam area, an action authorities acknowledged would violate mining laws, but framed as an emergency. The report argues that this decision helped create a “precedent” later used by other operators, including Chinese companies (Locka, 2018). The same reporting describes how some local elites allegedly obtained artisanal permits and then partnered with foreign operators, while bribery and weak enforcement allowed illegal or unsafe practices to continue (Locka, 2018).

Mining in Cameroon has caused serious problems for local people. Even though the law says mining companies must close up pits after digging, many pits are left open. This creates dangerous places where people can get hurt or die. For example, watchdog groups and news reports say that between 2017 and 2019, at least 115 people, including children, died in abandoned mining pits in the East and Adamawa regions. These pits are often very deep and are not filled in, so they become deadly traps, especially for children who might be playing or walking nearby. Mining also leads to other problems like water pollution and exposure to toxic chemicals. This matters because it shows that mining is not just about getting gold; it also affects the safety, health, and lives of people in these communities.

Child labour and school dropout are big problems in mining areas of Cameroon. Many children, especially those under 13, leave school to work in gold mines because their families need money. For example, a report from the East region shows that children as young as 6 work long hours in the mines and earn very little. Some families see mining as a way to escape poverty, so education becomes less important than earning quick cash. During mining seasons, even more students leave school to work, as one headmaster in Bétaré Oya explained. This matters because when children stop going to school to mine gold, it affects their safety, their education, and their future chances in life.

Finally, to understand how gold moves through local systems, the Country Mining Profile of Cameroon hosted on ResearchGate describes how gold trading can involve “collectors/buyers,” and states that CAPAM (the Artisan Mining Support). Gold from artisanal mining in Cameroon is usually sold to collectors or buyers. An official group called CAPAM sets the price and buys gold from these collectors, paying a small fee to the government. This is important because it shows that there are some official rules and systems for trading gold. However, other reports show that weak enforcement and informal practices still put local communities at risk of being exploited or facing unsafe conditions. This means that while there are structures in place, they do not always protect people as they should.

Tramadol is one type of opioid analgesic. Photograph: Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty Images

Drug Use, Labor, and Survival in the Mining Communities

Gold mining in Cameroon’s East Region is tough and risky. Miners spend hours digging underground, lifting heavy soil, and washing dirt to find gold. The work is exhausting and often happens in hot, unsafe places. Because of these challenges, many miners try to find ways to cope with pain, fatigue, and fear so they can keep working.

In mining communities and other manual labor jobs across Africa, more people are using the opioid painkiller Tramadol without a prescription. Tramadol is meant to be used for moderate to severe pain with a doctor’s guidance, but it is now common outside medical settings in many African countries. Researchers such as Saidou Sabi Boun, Olumuyiwa Omonaiye, and Sanni Yaya discuss this in their study, “Prevalence and health consequences of non-medical use of tramadol in Africa: A systematic scoping review.” Their review of many studies across Africa shows that tramadol misuse affects many groups, especially young adults and people doing hard physical work. Many manual workers use tramadol to cope with difficult working conditions. Across Africa, people take this drug not only for pain, but also to help them work longer and harder. In Central Africa, including Cameroon, researchers report that workers use tramadol to feel stronger and be more productive.

Drug Use as a Tool for Working Longer

One worker explained the routine preparation required before entering the mining site “Before I come here, I have to make sure I take something to give me energy until the end of the day.” This shows that taking drugs can become a regular part of the workday. For these miners, the drug is not for enjoyment. They use it to help them get through long, difficult hours at work.

Another miner described the same routine even more directly “When I have breakfast, I take a drug. If I don’t take the drug I can’t work.” This example shows that some workers feel they cannot do their jobs without the drug. For them, using it is part of how they get through each day, not just an added choice.

When asked what type of substance they used, one participant responded: “I use pills.” These stories from miners are similar to what researchers have found elsewhere. Many workers use tramadol to fight tiredness and improve their work. Because tramadol is cheap and easy to get, it is common among people who do hard jobs for low pay. Researchers note that because tramadol is cheap and easy to get, some people call it ‘the cocaine of the poor.’ Workers can buy it without a prescription in shops or on the street. This makes it popular among people who cannot afford a doctor or safer medicine.

Courage, Fear, and the Dangerous Nature of Mining

Mining is not only hard on the body, but also stressful and frightening. Workers go down into unsafe pits, dig in cramped spaces, and always face the risk of accidents like cave-ins or landslides.
Several interviewees described how drugs help them overcome the fear associated with these dangerous conditions.
One miner explained: “The drug gives us courage to go down there and dig.”

This shows that tramadol is not only used for physical pain. It also helps workers manage fear. By making pain and fear feel less intense, the drug allows people to do jobs that might otherwise seem too risky or difficult. Another worker emphasized how essential the substance had become for performing the work: “What helps us the most is when we use the drug. If we don’t use the drug, I don’t think we would be able to do it.”These stories show that drug use can become a normal part of work. If workers feel they need drugs just to do their jobs, it suggests there are deeper problems with the way the work is organized.

Health Risks and Consequences

While tramadol may help workers feel better for a short time, it can cause serious health problems over time. Studies show that using tramadol without a doctor’s prescription can lead to illness, addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and other health issues. People who misuse tramadol often feel dizzy, get headaches, feel sick, vomit, have muscle pain, or even have seizures. Sometimes these problems are so severe that they need hospital care.
These health risks are even more dangerous for miners. They work in deep pits and use heavy tools. If a worker feels dizzy or cannot move well, accidents are more likely to happen.

Repeated use of tramadol can lead to dependence. Over time, some workers feel they cannot work unless they take the drug. This often happens when people use tramadol to manage pain or to keep working every day.
If someone tries to stop taking tramadol, they might have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, become very tired, or experience a lot of pain. These problems make it hard for workers to quit the drug, even if they want to.
Tramadol misuse can also cause bigger problems in the community. It can lead to risky behavior, mental health struggles, and people being judged or excluded by others.

Structural Causes of Drug Use

It is important to remember that drug use in mining is not just a personal choice. It is also shaped by the difficult economic and social conditions workers face.
Mining in Eastern Cameroon is often part of the informal economy. Workers typically receive little protection, few safety regulations, and minimal access to healthcare. Income is highly uncertain and depends largely on the amount of gold discovered during a given day.

Because of these difficult conditions, workers often feel they must push themselves too hard to earn money for their families. Drugs like tramadol become a way to cope with the stress and pain of trying to survive every day.
Researchers point out that non medical tramadol use is a complex problem with economic, social, and political causes. Solving it takes more than just discouraging drug use. It also means improving working conditions, strengthening labor protections, and creating more economic opportunities for young people in mining areas.

Implications for Youth Exploitation Watch

Stories from miners reveal that labor exploitation in mining communities is more complex than it seems. Drug use is not only a health issue but is also tied to how work is structured. Some miners turn to drugs to handle long hours or dangerous work. This suggests that drug use often stems from job pressures and risks, rather than just personal decisions. This is important because it impacts young workers’ well-being and makes it even harder for them to break free from exploitation.

Projects like Youth Exploitation Watch aim to show what life is really like for young workers in the mining industry. By combining interviews and research, the project explains how work, health, and financial problems all connect in these communities. The testimonies of miners show that substance use is often a response to the harsh realities of their work, not just a personal choice. Understanding this context is key to finding solutions that protect both workers’ health and rights in Cameroon’s mining regions.

Tramadol hydrochloride tablet bottle label (50 mg), distributed by Advagen Pharma Ltd. Source: DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine.