A recent research report by NACADA has revealed some alarming trends in drug initiation and usage, highlighting the concerning prevalence of cannabis use in Kenya.
It also highlights the impact on mental health, indicating a need for comprehensive education and intervention programs to address this issue.
Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the CEO NACADA, has raised concerns about substance abuse in Kenya, particularly the growing prevalence of cannabis use among the youth. Therefore, it is crucial to make efforts to increase awareness and knowledge, as well as provide mental health support services.
The findings can inform evidence-based interventions and strategies to combat the growing demand for cannabis and other substances in the country.
The report shows 518,807 Kenyans aged 15-65 use cannabis, with 6.3% in Nairobi, 2.4% in Nyanza, and 1.9% in Coast,475,770 are male and 43,037 are female. Over 193,000 young people (aged 15-24) and 174,000 individuals (aged 25-35) use cannabis, with prevalence rates of 2.7% and 2.1%, respectively.
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The addiction rate for bhang stands at 47.4%. In the 15-24 age bracket, one in every 77 is an addict, and in the 25-35 age range, one in every 83 is addicted.
The report suggests that the growing popularity of cannabis among young people may be due to myths and misinformation, leading to a low perception of harm.
The study was conducted in 2022 and lasted for five years, evaluating drug and substance use programming trends
A follow-up survey was conducted after the five-year surveys of 2007, 2012, and 2017.
The survey was conducted in selected clusters spread across the 47 counties in Kenya.
The survey sampled Kenyans aged between 15 to 65 years old ,in total, 3,314 individual interviews were conducted, which translates to an individual response rate of 87%.
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The report indicates that tobacco products, alcohol, and khat had the highest overall awareness, with 97%, 95%, and 88%, respectively.
Data found that the average age at which the youth are introduced to bhang use is eight years.
Drug and substance use led to moderate to severe depression in 209,582 Kenyans aged 15-65.
"The risk of depressive disorder among users of cannabis was 2.3 times higher compared to non-users," the report revealed.
