A Kericho-based anti-drug activist has urged the County Government of Kericho to collaborate with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) to set up community preventive awareness centers.
The initiative aims to educate the youth on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, with the goal of curbing the rising tide of addiction in the region.
In an interview with KNA, the NACADA Ambassador William Rotich said preventive and advocacy measures can go a long way to stem drug and alcohol abuse among the youthful population in the county, as it was threatening to reach unprecedented levels.
“The county government should partner with NACADA and see to it that community education prevention and advocacy programmes are established so that residents are aware of these vices, especially those learners in schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning where there is little talk about it.
Drug and alcohol abuse has killed the potential of many youngsters in schools,” said Rotich.
He pointed out that drug and alcohol abuse was evident in the county, and concerted efforts among stakeholders in national and county governments were required to stamp out incidents of drug and alcohol abuse in schools.
“The illicit brews, second-generation alcoholic drinks enterprises, and rampant drug uptake with our young learners from different schools across the country have to be checked to save our young generation from drowning in these destructive substances,“ added Ambassador Rotich.
The anti-drug activist said care for youth battling addictions is expensive, and many cannot afford the cost of treatment, and called for support from the county government to establish rehabilitation centers to assist in their recovery process.
“The county government can partner with NACADA to initiate and establish rehabilitation centers that are affordable because what is already in the county is private and expensive.
Most young people battling addictions come from poor backgrounds. They are not able to raise the Sh180,000 for treatment, as the programme runs for six months, and this is the minimum duration.” added Ambassador Rotich.
Ambassador Rotich urged the board of management in secondary schools to exercise vigilance among their student population and place stringent measures to curb incidents of drug and alcohol abuse from infiltrating learners.
“Second-generation alcoholic drinks are easily accessible to youths under the age of 18 years on shelves of retail outlets, and so is bhang among hawkers who are found selling their wares during school visiting days.
Other students are sneaky and will liaise with neighbours bordering schools to get alcohol through the school fence,” explained Ambassador Rotich.
“We need to have a school-based prevention intervention awareness education programme that can be facilitated by a trained counsellor that will place thorough checks for drugs and alcohol not to reach the students, who also get to be educated on the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse.
Through my counselling sessions in a week, I see four students who are between the ages of thirteen and fifteen years who presented addiction to vaping, cigarettes, bhang and second-generation alcoholic drinks,” he added.
He advocated that the county government should plan to engage with communities through their local churches and trained counsellors where they can communicate effectively messages that target the youthful congregants on the need to keep off drugs and alcohol.
Ambassador Rotich appealed to the local administration, police, county leadership and the relevant stakeholders to work together in the fight against drugs and alcohol abuse, as it was threatening to kill the future of many youths.
“The youth are the leaders of tomorrow, but a future threatened by drug abuse is gloomy.” noted Ambassador Rotich.
By Sarah Njagi
