‘Children below 10 being initiated to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, miraa’ – NACADA

Children below the age of 10 are being initiated into a myriad of hard drugs, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed.

According to NACADA, children are being introduced to tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and miraa between the ages of six and nine.

According to the NACADA Strategic Plan 2023/24-2027/28 launched on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the minimum age of initiation for tobacco was six years, alcohol (seven years), cannabis (eight years) and khat (nine years).

NACADA further reveals that children are introduced to prescription drugs at the age of eight years, heroin (18 years) and cocaine (20 years).

According to the authority, the overall prevalence of drugs in Kenya has reduced from 18.2 in 2017 to 17.5 per cent

in 2022.

“The average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16 – 20 years. 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),” NACADA stated.

Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance of abuse in Kenya among the 15-65 age category.

NACADA also noted an increasing demand for cheaper and readily available alcoholic products, especially chang’aa, traditional brews, and potable spirits.

“The Authority is committed to implement targeted programmes and interventions in demand and supply reduction,” NACADA added.

Challenges NACADA faced

In the fight against drug and substance abuse, the authority says it has been facing challenges such as increased use of drugs and the associated health consequences, especially among young people, merging complex global supply chain of drugs and increased incidences of drug use among older people, partly explained by ageing cohorts of drug users.

Other challenges include a rise in the market for cocaine with record highs in manufacture and use and developed countries increased alcohol and drug use that starts before the age of 15 years for between 50-70 per cent.

Locally, NACADA says there is inadequate information flow due to poor data collection systems, increased use of cannabis among the age group 18-24, importation of amphetamines smuggled into African countries without any justification and some countries in the African region still do not have a national definition of alcohol and permitted drugs.

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