In Summary

• Authorities have been asked  to act swiftly and suppress the use of hard drugs in Nigeria Area Mathare sub-county.

• The results show that tobacco products, alcohol and khat had the highest overall awareness at 97 per-cent, 95 percent and 88 percent, respectively.

Mathare residents Bondeni and Mabatini have called on the authorities to act swiftly and suppress the use of hard drugs in Nigeria Area.

Nigeria which is in Mabatini has become a den not today but years with several attempts to weed out completely the peddlers hitting a hard core.

But what has become unique is the level of impunity that peddlers are conducting this illegal business of drugs despite being outlawed.

“It’s normal you can come get your injection of a hard drug and disappear.This is how this place has become. It is impunity of the highest order to say little…How can we have a country where drugs are sold in broad daylight and with little action yet we have the police being paid by tax payers money ?” Anorld Ochieng Mabatini resident said.

“Hapa ni blunder wasipochunga mayut man hawatakuwa na life juu imefika point ni open hakuna mwenye anajali, hao masanse wanakam wanachukua zao then wanalost juu yaani wameingia kwa drugs mapema ambapo unapata wengi wanavuta bangi ,” Dan Kayumba another resident said.

Initiation to Drugs in Kenya NACADA Report

According to recent survey released by  National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) the average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16 – 20 years.

The results show that tobacco products, alcohol and khat had the highest overall awareness at 97 per-cent, 95 percent and 88 percent, respectively.

“Data shows that the average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription

drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16 – 20 years. However, the minimum age of initiation for tobacco was 6

years, alcohol (7 years), cannabis (8 years), khat (9 years), prescription drugs (8 years), heroin (18 years)

and cocaine (20 years). One in every 6 Kenyans aged 15 – 65 years (4,733,152) were currently using at least one drugor substance of abuse.’’ The report reads in part.

‘‘One in every 11 youths aged 15 – 24 years (632,846) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse;One in every 20 youths aged 15 – 24 years (367,608) were currently using alcohol;One in every 31 youths aged 15 – 24 years (230,130) were currently using tobacco; One in every 28 youths aged 15 – 24 years (259,954) were currently using khat; One in every 37 youths aged 15 – 24 years (193,430) were currently using cannabis;One in every 1,000 youths aged 15 – 24 years (8,328) were currently using prescription drugs;One in every 26 youths aged 15 – 24 years (267,454) were currently using multiple drugs.’’ The report continues.