In summary
- The report attributed the growing demand for cannabis especially among the youth
- Western Region region had the highest prevalence of current use of alcohol
Nairobi is leading the nation in the prevalence and consumption of Cannabis, a National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed.
The Status of Drugs and Substance Use also revealed that at least one in every six Kenyans aged 15 – 65 years is currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse, this is according to a report by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse.
According to the report one in every three males aged 15 – 65 years (3,783,854) and 1 in every 16 females (949,298) are also using at least one drug or substance of abuse.
The report also shows that Western region had the highest prevalence of current use of at least one drug or substance of abuse (26.4%) followed by Eastern (20.7%) and Nairobi (19.1%)
The report attributed the growing demand for cannabis especially among the youth partly to the low perception of harm due to myths, misinformation, and misconceptions.
Interior Principle Secretary Raymond Omollo expressed shock at the discovery saying that the numbers were alarming.
“When I first went through the 2022 Drug Use Report, it hit me that we were staring at a crisis of epic proportions. The fact that more than 4 million people used drugs in the country in 2022 was truly staggering, that is 1 in every 10 people,” PS Omollo said.
Alcoholism
The report further indicated that in every eight Kenyans aged 15 – 65 years (3,199,119) were currently using alcohol;
One in every five males aged 15 – 65 years (2,511,763) and 1 in every 20 females (687,356) were currently using alcohol; Western Region region had the highest prevalence of current use of alcohol (23.8%) followed by Coast (13.9%) and Central (12.8%
Alcohol is the leading contributor to substance use disorders in Kenya; 1 in every 20 Kenyans has an alcohol use disorder.Alcohol&Tobacco use still remains a leading risk factor for #NCDs in the country
Another notable concern is the prevalence of current use of cannabis is higher among young people aged between 15-24 years.
The national survey on the “Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022” is a five-year survey conducted to assess the trends of DSU programing indicators.
This is a follow-up survey to the 2007, 2012 and 2017 five – year surveys on DSU.
The 2022 national survey which was launched today by (NACADA) used a cross-sectional study design to provide reliable estimates to track the national, regional, urban and rural drugs and substance use indicators.
The survey was conducted in selected clusters spread across the 47 counties of the Republic of Kenya. The study sampled Kenyan aged 15 to 65 years.
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