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The Spouse of Deputy President Dorcas Rigathi has urged parents with children addicted to alcohol and drug abuse to accept them as one way of their recovery.
Pastor Dorcas who was speaking on Sunday evening during a football tournament in Kiambu.
She said there is a need for such children to be loved and understood by their families for them to heal.
Dorcas said stigmatising and condemning them will push them away hence hindering their recovery.
“Drug addiction and alcoholism is actually a disease. You cannot condemn people who are sick. What you need to do is to understand them and help them overcome the situation,” she said.
The Spouse of the Deputy President said her office is working towards rehabilitating the addicts in inpatient and outpatient programmes.
She noted that it was the work of the parents as well as the society to make sure this generation is not lost.
“We don’t stigmatise alcoholism and if your child is on drugs, do not be ashamed. Bring them and we will work towards validating their dream,” she said.
“Do not reject your children. It is our work as parents, society and community to make sure that this generation is not lost.”
The tournament brought together a team of recovering drug addicts who have been involved in technical training and counseling.
Kiambu subcounty DCC Titus Macharia, on the other hand, said the fight against alcoholism in the region has made good progress thanks to the combined efforts between the administration and the community.
“Without the people being sober, no matter what the government does, we will not benefit from the things the government does,” he said.
“In Kiambu, we have reduced the consumption of illicit brews to the barest minimum.”