Why drug abuse is on the rise among teens

A survey in 17 counties by NACADA showed a high use of drugs and alcohol by school going teenagers with alcohol the most abused and prescription drugs the most accessible. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • The first in Eldoret town, where 500 children and teenagers were arrested in a disco and were also found to be smoking bhang, drinking alcohol and chewing miraa. Hardly two weeks later, 200 children were arrested in a disco in Nairobi.
  • The statistics do not lie. A survey in 17 counties on alcohol and drug abuse Conducted by The National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) showed a high use of drugs and alcohol by school going teenagers with alcohol the most abused and prescription drugs the most accessible.
  • From experience they start mainly in high school when they are teenagers. At this age they listen more to their peers than parents. An IPSOS survey released showed that almost half of these teenagers were introduced to alcohol by friends and relatives.

In the last few months we have been exposed to a growing problem — underage boys and girls engaging in use of drugs and alcohol.

In August this year, 45 students found using bhang, alcohol and cigarettes were arrested in Nyeri as they were travelling in a Matatu. Though there was outrage, it soon died to be revived again by two disturbing cases in October.

The first in Eldoret town, where 500 children and teenagers were arrested in a disco and were also found to be smoking bhang, drinking alcohol and chewing miraa. Hardly two weeks later, 200 children were arrested in a disco in Nairobi and they were also found smoking bhang (marijuana) and drinking alcohol. In all these cases the young boys and girls were engaging in sexual intercourse as part of the “fun”. If it was not for the alarm raised by the community these cases would have gone unnoticed.

Is there a crisis in our youth? Do these three instances highlight a growing problem amongst our youth? Do the young boys and girls realise the dangers in there behaviours to their health and wellbeing? In the midst of all this, where are the parents?

To answer these and many more questions I sought the expert advice of Dr Catherine Syengo Mutisya — a consultant psychiatrist — who is the head of Substance Abuse and Management in the Ministry of Health.

Is substance abuse on the increase in Kenya?

Yes it is and it is a real concern. The statistics do not lie. A survey in 17 counties on alcohol and drug abuse Conducted by The National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) showed a high use of drugs and alcohol by school going teenagers with alcohol the most abused and prescription drugs the most accessible.

I think the gravity of the problem was highlighted in the wake of the crackdown on illicit brews earlier this year. There were disheartening stories of the effect of alcohol as well as drugs on young adults and their families.

As a consultant I have also witnessed an increase in people requiring help with substance abuse. We are trying to cope with the increased number who require treatment. 

In your previous experience at Mathari Hospital, what is the reality of managing substance abuse?

In Mathari hospital in the year 2014 to 2015, the outpatient substance abuse clinic treated about 821 patients. At any given time all the 51 beds in the rehabilitation ward beds are always full with each client staying for 90 days for treatment.

Mathari Hospital in December 2014 started a special Methadone clinic for treatment of heroin addiction. It helps heroin addicts (who inject themselves) to overcome their addiction by giving them syrup methadone. They are about 450 clients getting this treatment daily at Mathari.

Similarly there are methadone clinics in Malindi and Mombasa which were opened recently. These clinics are treating about 145 and 60 clients daily respectively.

There are many more who smoke and “chase” heroine who do not qualify for this type of treatment.

An interesting observation is that men/boys account for more than 80% of the people being treated in the Mathari methadone clinic. 

When are young people likely to use drugs and alcohol?

From experience they start mainly in high school when they are teenagers. At this age they listen more to their peers than parents. An IPSOS survey released showed that almost half of these teenagers were introduced to alcohol by friends and relatives.

However the age when they start is lowering, according to the NACADA survey in 2012, the age of first use of all drugs has gone to as low as 10 years.

Students abuse drugs in places where they are least supervised including on their way home, during weekends while at school, during school trips and school competitions.

Why are these children using these drugs and alcohol in high school?

The causes are multiple and usually related:

• Peer pressure. They are now influenced by their friends.

•Pressure from academics. The education system seems to be taking a toll on our children and they can end up using drugs and alcohol as a means of escape.

• Parents are not supervising their children. Parents especially in urban areas are busy working. In addition, the lack of community ownership in these urban areas leaves children with a gap to explore the use of drugs and alcohol.

• Easy accessibility to drugs. Drugs like bhang are very accessible to the young people especially with the new laws controlling alcohol consumption.  The use of prescription medications like codeine and diazepam commonly occur.

• Lack of role models in society. Nowadays role models for teenagers and young adults exalt the use of alcohol and drugs which in turn make it look “cool”.

• Social media. Teenagers with mobile phones have easy access to new forms of media that exalts the use of alcohol and drugs.

 

Why is bhang prohibited in Kenya yet other countries are legalising its use? Are we backward?

Contrary to what is in the news, there is very little scientific evidence that smoking or eating marijuana is effective and safe for treating any medical issues.  Because marijuana is a raw herb, there are over 500 different chemicals in it, in combinations that vary widely between different strains and even from plant to plant. This causes serious problems trying to use the whole marijuana leaf or crude extracts as medicine.

The main concern is that these chemicals in bhang have a negative effect on the brain of growing children. 

What is the government and other relevant authorities doing to curb this drug menace?

The government and its agencies have put a lot of effort in addressing this problem.

NACADA partners with the Ministry Of Health, Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board in various ways to effect the laws and policies already in place. Once we can improve on co-ordination between these agencies and departments I think we can tackle the drug menace.

The Ministry of Health is currently working on policy and guidelines and technical capacity building to manage substance abuse in health facilities in the country.  We are planning to launch and disseminate the national treatment guidelines for substance abuse and a 2 year strategic plan to manage substance abuse in Kenya. 

Other than Mathari Hospital, where can people suffering from substance addiction get treatment?

In Nairobi in addition to Mathari National Teaching & Referral Hospital rehabilitation (REHAB) centre, we have Kenyatta National Hospital for outpatient treatment. We also have Moi Teaching and Referral hospital Eldoret rehabilitation (REHAB) centre and Coast General hospital rehabilitation (REHAB) centre. The advantage of these facilities is the treatment can be catered for by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The only problem is that these facilities have long waiting lists due to limited space. 

These are government health facilities you have mentioned, are there other drug rehabilitation facilities?

There are 43 private rehabilitation (REHAB) centres around Kenya all approved by NACADA.

So how do we practically deal with this issue of substance abuse?

Well, it starts at home with the parent. The best time to engage our children is before the age of 12 when they are more influenced by their peers. Research shows that these three strategies can help improve the chances of preventing drug use and other deviant behaviour:

• Bonding with children from an early age and spending time with them

• Shaping children’s behaviour.

• Limit setting which helps children understand the positive consequences of good behaviour and the negative consequences of bad behaviour.

If we are able to use these three strategies we will have responsible children with high self-esteem who will be able to withstand pressure to engage is bad behaviour like using drugs.