New Bill gives hope for drug and substance addicts

A new Bill before Parliament promises hope for drug and substance addicts by compelling both the national and county governments to establish rehabilitation and harm reduction programmes.

 The Harm Reduction Bill, 2025, seeks to provide a legal framework for the delivery of harm reduction services in public health facilities, aiming to curb drug-related deaths, overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases.

Sponsored by Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, the proposed law outlines a wide range of interventions.

 They include access to healthcare, treatment, psychosocial support, peer recovery services and counselling for people battling substance use disorder, as well as for their families and caregivers.

 “The Cabinet Secretary shall develop a comprehensive policy and a national strategy on harm reduction to ensure improved welfare and treatment of persons with substance use disorder,” the Bill states.

 It defines harm reduction as public health policies and strategies that mitigate the negative physical, social and health consequences of drug use, ranging from safer use and managed use to full abstinence.

 The national government, according to the Bill, shall develop community health and social programmes for the care and rehabilitation of persons with substance use disorder

 The state shall carry out sensitisation programmes on the care and rehabilitation of persons with substance use disorder and promote access to information on the care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with substance use disorder.

 “The national government shall promote and provide psychosocial support, peer recovery support services, counselling and treatment of persons with substance use disorder, their families, caregivers, dependents and the community in general,” the Bill states.

 According to the Bill, the Health CS shall develop a policy and strategy on the delivery of harm reduction services in public hospitals.

 The CS shall maintain a register indicating the number of persons with substance use disorder, their ages, their sex, the disorders or diseases diagnosed and the number of deaths of persons with substance use disorder.

 He will also develop standards to be maintained by health facilities providing harm reduction services.

 “The Cabinet Secretary shall designate a directorate under the Ministry of Health to co-ordinate the provision of harm reduction services in the country,” the Bill states.

 The CS shall cause to be established harm reduction facilities, which shall be adequately provided with trained health providers and necessary equipment and facilities, the standard of which shall be defined by the Ministry responsible for matters relating to health.

 In the counties, the CEC responsible for Health shall implement the national policy, strategy and standards relating to harm reduction services.

 The CEO will facilitate the provision of harm reduction services within the county health facilities, besides mobilising resources necessary for the delivery of harm reduction services in the respective county.

 In addition, he will allocate adequate funds and resources necessary for the effective delivery of harm reduction services in the county health facilities.

 A health provider commits an offence if they unduly refuse to grant a person access to harm reduction services, or unreasonably withhold information or treatment services.

 Such a person shall be liable to a fine of not more than Sh200,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

INSTAN ANALYSIS

 The principal object of the Bill is to provide a framework for the delivery of harm reduction services within public health facilities in order to minimise drug-related deaths, drug overdose and infectious disease transmission through provision of harm reduction services including access to healthcare, social services, treatment and management of persons with substance use disorder.