Heroin, cocaine most abused drugs in Central - Nacada

Abuse of hard drugs across central Kenya has become prevalent, a recent NACADA research has revealed.

NACADA‘s Central region manager Amos Warui has said preliminary research indicates that among the hard drugs being highly abused are heroin and cocaine.

Though steering off statistics, Maina said the uptake of the drugs has dominated across all major towns in the region, particularly near institutions of higher learning.

“Despite alcohol abuse diminishing across the region, uptake of hard drugs particularly these two is rapidly gaining momentum across all major towns. From our analysis we have found out that peddlers are camping in towns where institutions of higher learning are based and where they are making a kill out of the illegal trade,” he said.

Warui advised students and youths across the region to take personal responsibility by way of refraining from abusing harmful drugs lest they destroy their future.

Speaking on Tuesday, Warui also encouraged regional residents to jealously secure their future and those of their children by reporting any suspected drug peddler to the authorities.

In addition, he encouraged parents to constantly advise their children so as to reduce their chances of indulging in substance abuse.

“I want parents to take advantage of this school holiday season and counsel their children on life dos’ and don'ts. This will help them discern what is right and wrong thus securing their future.”

The central regional boss said such sessions would also help contain the rising cases of substance abuse which was massively recorded at the height of the Covid outbreak.

He said during the said season, school-going girls highly abused hard drugs as compared to their male peers.

He spoke in Mukinduri, Kirinyaga central during an exercise to destroy illicit liquor and hard drugs nabbed across the county within a period of two weeks.

Warui further challenged county governments to put up more public rehabilitation facilities in order to help patients struggling with substance abuse recover faster.

He noted that Kirinyaga only has three private facilities and thus called on the local county government to use part of the levies they collect from liquor businesses to establish public rehabilitation facilities.

He also noted that the entity is ready to partner with the county through the provision of different programmes key to eradicating substance abuse across the county.

“Alcoholism is a disease which patients should not shy from seeking treatment. Currently, patients undergoing rehabilitation are being covered by the NHIF. I, therefore, call on patients to show up in any of the NHIF-approved facilities so that they can be attended to.”

Kirinyaga county commissioner Moses Ivuto said the government will not relent in the fight against the spread of illicit brew as he called for cooperation from the members of the public.

Ivuto said a total of 1,825 litres of illicit liquor, an assorted crate of second generation brew,210 rolls of bhang and 24 stones of bhang were destroyed during the exercise.

He further urged the resident to consume with moderation liquor that has been tested and approved for human consumption.

He decried that abuse of hard drugs has resulted in to increase in crime thus urging residents to report cases of crime by sending a text message to 988 or reporting to the relevant department.

County police commander Alfred Okengo said the government would continue with its operation of Inspecting liquor premises and nabbing operators running their businesses without licences.