Worldwide 76.3 million persons are diagnosed with alcohol disorders. At least 15.3 million persons are affected by disorders related to drug use, and between 5 and 10 million people currently inject drugs.
Five to 10 per cent of all new HIV infections globally result from injecting drugs, where more than 1.8 million deaths in 2000 were attributed to alcohol-related risks, 205,000 deaths in 2000 were attributed to illicit drug use.
The burden of substance use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa has been projected to increase by an estimated 130 per cent by 2050. Despite this, substance use disorder treatment and prevention systems in the region remain under-resourced and the treatment gap is at 87 per cent.
Untreated substance use disorders are a major public health problem. Globally, substance use disorders are the second leading cause of disability among mental disorders with 31,052,000 (25 per cent) years lived with disability attributed to them.
In Africa, the impact of problematic patterns of substance use is particularly high. For example, in 2016, despite lower levels of alcohol consumption compared to elsewhere, the region had the highest age-standardised alcohol-attributable deaths and age-standardised alcohol-attributable Disability Adjusted Life Years (70.6 deaths per 100,000 people and 3043.7 per 100,000 people respectively).
Further compounding this situation is the fact that substance use disorders are associated with social costs as high as I$ 800 per head, emanating from their impact on productivity, crime and health systems.
In sub-Saharan Africa where the burden of substance use disorder is high and countries are struggling to end poverty, drug abusers and their families shoulder the main economic burden of drug abuse, and for every dollar invested in drug treatment, seven dollars are saved in health and social costs.
Abuse of alcohol and other substances continues to be one of the most serious public health problems in both developed and developing countries. Worldwide, alcohol accounted for four per cent of the total burden of diseases in 2000.
It is important that governments place priority on strengthening their substance use disorder treatment and prevention systems.
Current statistics indicate that more than half of drug users are aged 10-19 years. That is now the tragedy of our times. The 10-19 year-olds are children living either with their parents, single parents, guardians or relatives.
Remember, that same age group has catapulted Kenya to position three globally in teen pregnancy. HIV infections among the same group have also shot up. Teen pregnancy and the increase in teen pregnancy cannot be blamed on Covid-19.
We had this problem before Covid. In fact, it was in 2018 that Kenya recorded its highest-ever teen pregnancy of 427,135; there was no Covid in 2018. Recently, the Daily Nation newspaper ran a two-page story on teen pregnancy and HIV.
In the story, two children (Fatuma and Millicent) were both impregnated by their stepfathers. For Fatuma, it began when she was 13 and in Std 8. For Millicent, it began when she was in Form 1.
I would wish Nacada to note the following as reported. This leads to the emotional and mental pressure those children go through because of what they experience in their houses and alcohol leads to child prostitution; and the sad reality is that our prisons are crowded with our youth and young people.
Calling upon the government to develop a written policy for drug-free especially to young people. Employee physiology will help in counselling and tailor programs targeting marginalised communities.
Executive director at Epic Youth Organization
