The environment within the universities and the neighbourhoods are not drug-free spaces, and has led to increased availability and accessibility for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
A study by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) revealed that alcohol and cigarettes are the most available drugs and substances of abuse among university students in Kenya,
The study, which revealed that there was an emerging gradual penetration of new psychoactive substances within the universities particularly methamphetamine and prescription drugs, also showed that alcohol was the most (87.3 percent) available substance followed by cigarettes (64.4 percent), shisha (41.2percent), vape/e-cigarettes (31 percent), nicotine pouches (30.7 percent), kuber (23percent) and snuff/chewed tobacco (22.1percent).
The report titled Status of Drugs and Substance Abuse among University Students in Kenta 2014 was released by the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
He said the report is a mirror reflecting the sad reality of the drug menace in our society, a wake-up call to the nation and a roadmap for action.
“The findings of this report from the 17 universities sampled are both enlightening and alarming.
They reveal that 45.6% of university students have used at least one drug or substance in their lifetime. Even more alarming is that 26.6% of our university students are currently using these substances.”
“Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, khat, and even emerging substances like methamphetamine and codeine syrupare finding their way into the lives of our students,” he said.
He said the reality demonstrated by this report shows that female university students are also becoming increasingly more vulnerable – a reminder to us that addiction knows no gender.
“We must urgently address the unique challenges our young women face and ensure they are not left behind in this fight. I note that NACADA is a step ahead on this through provision of free rehabilitation to female clients at the Miritini Drug Rehabilitation Centre.”
“The revelation that female students across the universities are having higher prevalence of moderately severe (6.4%) and severe (4.1%) depressive disorders compared to their male counterparts (5.2% and 3.0% respectively) is a matter of concern to the future of the Girl Child,” he added.
The CS said the report further revealed that friends contribute to 66.4% of sources of drugswith evidence showing university students being involved in the supply and sale of Drugs and Substance.
“This is a wakeup call to our children to be careful with friends. We, parents, should also endeavour to know our children’s friends.”
The report also revealed that there was an increasing use of online platforms and websitesfor promoting the sale and use of Drugs and Substance targeting university students.
He told parents and guardians their involvement in managing their children could be the difference between a bright future and a life derailed by addiction.
“I urge you to prioritise prevention programs, create substance-free social spaces, and provide wellness-focused activities. Equally important is ensuring that students struggling with addiction can seek help without fear of stigma or judgment. Let us build universities that nurture not just minds, but also character and resilience.”
He urged NACADA, in collaboration with the university management, to leverage social media and other online platforms to reach the students with tailored prevention programmes and factual messaging to counter myths, misinformation, and misconceptions related to DSU.
“Further, I direct NACADA, in collaboration with the universityleaderships, to explore strategies of implementing the raft of recommendations in the report to address this menace. You have our full support to this end.”
On the availability of narcotic drugs, the study further revealed that smoked cannabis was the most (61.7 percent) available narcotic drug followed by cannabis edibles (47.6 percent), cocaine (15.1percent) and heroin (14.3percent).
Results from the focused group discussions (FGDs) targeting university students identified multiple cannabis edibles ranging from weed cookies, weed mabuyu, weed lollipops and weed juice.
Among the psychoactive substances, it was found that prescription drugs were the most (13.9 percent) available followed by inhalants (13.1percent), codeine/cough syrups (11.5 percent), methamphetamine (8.5 percent), ecstasy/GHB/LSD/Psychedelics (8.1 percent) and ketamine (7 percent).
“Morphine, a potent opioid used for management of severe pain, was reported as an emerging substance of abuse in the student’s FGD,” the Nacada report states.
The study also showed friends were the main (66.4 percent) sources of drugs followed by canteen/bar/premises within the neighbourhood (59.3 percent); fellow students within the institution (56 percent); online purchasing over websites or social media (39.4 percent); canteen/bar/premises within the institution (28 percent); support/non-teaching staff (11.4 percent); and lecturers/teaching staff (7 percent).
Almost half of university students in Kenya have used a drug or substance of abuse in their lifetime. About 20 percent, one in every five university students, have ever used at least one type of tobacco, while 1 in every 7 university students (13.4 percent) have smoked cigarettes.
Nacada also revealed that 10.9 percent have used shisha, 8.6 percent e-cigarettes, nicotine (4.6 percent), snuff/chewed tobacco 4.1 percent).
Also, 1 in every 6 university students (18 percent) had ever used at least one type of cannabis in their lifetime while 1 in every 7 university students (14.9 percent) had smoked cannabis.
The study covered both public and private universities across all the 8 administrative regions of the country.
“A total of 17 universities were included in the study.
The study population comprised undergraduate students from both public and private universities in Kenya.
A total of 15,678 respondents were interviewed translating to a response rate of 99.7%,” Nacada said.
Over half (54.2 percent) of the student population were male and 45.2 percent were females while 0.6 percent did not state their sex.
Most (61.7 percent) of the students were accommodated outside the institution.
According to the study, there was evidence of involvement and use of university students in the supply and sale of DSA, and increasing use of online platforms and websites for promoting the sale and use of such drugs targeting university students.
The analysis also revealed a high burden of depressive disorders among university students where 1 in every 17 students had moderately severe depressive disorders and another 1 in every 29 students had severe depressive disorders.
Data analysis also showed that guidance and counselling services were the most common intervention available to address DSA among university students followed by awareness talks on DSA, peer counselling, and policy on drug-free environment within the institution.
“The students found in possession of DSA were mostly referred to guidance and counselling, referred to peer counselling, referred to treatment and rehabilitation, warned or cautioned, suspended from the institution, parents or guardians summoned, expelled from the institution or taken to the police,” the report stated.
Based on the findings of this study, Nacada made several recommendations including rolling out deliberate and sustained DSU prevention interventions like strong mentorship programmes by the university managements.
The university management should also consider mandatory accommodation of university students within the institutions and in accredited privately managed accommodation facilities outside the university;
Nacada also recommended that the university management and the Ministry of Education should strengthen the guidance and counselling departments to support the provision of brief interventions for students with substance use disorders (SUDs), mental health disorders, and other unresolved trauma.
Ohers include collaboration and strengthening the university chaplaincies, provision of affordable and accessible treatment and rehabilitation services tailored to the unique needs of students in higher learning institutions, and enhance parental monitoring and role modelling.
Equally, the study identified several emerging information gaps for further research including an in-depth qualitative study to understand the risk factors for DSU among university students and the nature of drug supply networks within and near the university neighbourhood.
Another area of research identified is the assessment on the increased vulnerability of DSU among undergraduate female students in Kenya.
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