Girls Drug Abuse Shoots Higher, NACADA Raises Alarm

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The National Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA) has expressed concern on the rise of drug abuse of girls that is almost on par to boys in the Coast region.

The most abused drugs include bhang, heroine, and Xylazine which are veterinary sedative drug.

A recent Nacada survey indicates that university students and other young Kenyans are the most affected group.

Dr. Yvonne Olando, director, Public Education and Advocacy NACADA, blamed the rise of social media as a catalyst in drug abuse.

She sighted that more girls are now into drugs, almost at same level with their male colleagues.

Speaking during a sensitization forum for inter religious faith group in Mombasa on Tuesday, Dr Olando said social media has made taking drugs such as fashionable thing thereby attracting more young people to take up drugs.

“These drugs are made in a manner targeting girls with different _shisha_ flavours targeting young girls,” she added.

She urged for measures from the government and the society to protect the youths from drugs.

“Today we are sensitizing these religious leaders from both Christians and Muslims who have a considerable following, so that they can speak to them for behavoural change.”

Kenya’s porous land and sea borders have been a major entry point of entrance of banned substance with NACADA strengthening crackdown to curb them.

Private villas and mansions have been among the greatest challenge that the anti-drug enforcement authority has been grappling with.

“We have a multi-agency approach to tackle drug trafficking in this country even within residential areas, and recently Interior CS Murkomen ordered for a rapid response initiative to tackle drugs.So we continue the fight even if you don’t see us on TV.”

‎Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Muslim (SUPKEM) affairs has called for the review of school timings to allow students attend religious studies.

‎SUPKEM Mombasa branch chairman Athman Ali blames the increase in drug abuse among young people to lack of religious education.

‎He said it is disheartening that students go to school from Monday to Friday, then tuitions on weekends leaving no room for spiritual nourishment.

‎Strict adherence to a school calendar and enforcement on banning remedial classes will allow students to go to madrassa and mafundisho for spiritual guidance, accoriding toi Athman, thereby redcuing the number of affected youths.

“Our children are busy in school from Monda to Friday, which is fine, but why again should students spend Saturday and Sunday still learning under tutiton prpogramm instead of going for religious studies in madrassah and churches,” he posed.

Bishop Paul Mwaura said the religious leaders have resolved to take the lead in the fight against drug abuse in the region alluding that the drug menace has affected people from all denominations.

‎”We are not laying blame to an individual or a society. The blame is on all of us. Now we are fighting back led by our chairman Mr. Qattada here. Expect more action from us especially after this sensitization,” said Mwai.

‎Pwani patriotic religious leaders chairman sheikh Abu Qattada said it was not late to fight drug addiction in Mombasa citing recent crackdowns on mogoka stimulant drug saying it enforeces the desire to tackle drug abuse.

“While we may not have a timeline to see success of our efforts, nonetheless, we must start from somewhere because a journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step. Today, we have made the first step,” he noted.