drugs and substance abuse in Kenya

More than one million people in Kenya’s  Rift Valley region are addicted to alcohol, drugs and substances according to a new report by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse-NACADA.

According to NACADA, about 400,000 of these are in need of rehabilitation services.

NACADA Chairman Stephen Mairori made the announcement on Friday while speaking during the launch of a Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at the Koiwa Hospital in Bomet County.

“In Rift Valley alone, over 1 million use alcohol and other forms of drugs. Out of these numbers about 400,000 need rehabilitation. That’s a very large number,” he said.

The status of drugs and substance use in Kenya

Data released earlier this year by NACADA on the status of drugs and substance use in Kenya showed that tobacco products, alcohol and khat had the highest overall awareness at 97 percent, 95 percent, and 88 percent, respectively.

“Data shows that the average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16 – 20 years,” NACADA said in the report.

The report also noted an increased prevalence of drugs and substances of use among the population aged 15 – 65 years.

One in every 6 Kenyans aged 15 – 65 years (4,733,152) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse; One in every 3 males aged 15 – 65 years (3,783,854) and 1 in every 16 females (949,298) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse.