Former Kenya 7s rugby player Dennis Ombachi has raised concerns about the escalating cases of alcohol and drug abuse among the youth.
Ombachi, who is known for his achievements in rugby and his culinary skills, blames the current economic situation for the worrying trend.
In a recent post on his X account, the self-taught chef expressed his concerns, stating that the economic challenges faced by Kenyans are contributing to the rising prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse among the youth.
He went on to suggest that the consequences of these struggles might manifest for years to come.
“With the current economic situation, alcohol & drug abuse amongst the youth will keep on escalating, and the pandemic will manifest in years to come. The hopelessness has crept in hadi ushago and it’s bad bad!” Ombachi noted.
With the current economic situation, alcohol & drug abuse amongst the youth will keep on escalating & the pandemic will manifest in years to come. The hopelessness has creeped in hadi ushago and it’s bad bad!
— dennis ombachi OLY (@ombachi13) October 23, 2023
Ombachi, advocates for mental health
In a 2021 interview, he candidly discussed his personal battle with mental health challenges, revealing that he had received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
“I was diagnosed with bipolar, and following a few therapy sessions, I was informed that I have bipolar and ADHD,” he shared.
Ombachi, whose rugby career faced a significant threat due to a serious injury during the 2017/18 season, further shared the depths of his struggles.
He disclosed that he had made multiple suicide attempts throughout his career and had experienced numerous episodes of self-harm.
Leveraging his status as a rugby player and Olympian, Ombachi has made the deliberate choice to become a vocal advocate for addressing mental health issues.
Recently, Ombachi was recently awarded the title of the best TikToker in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Top Creators Awards.
