By Melisa Mong’ina
Nairobi, Kenya: In a world where alcohol’s allure remains strong, youth-led organizations are joining forces with rehabilitation centers and policymakers to combat addiction and reduce consumption among Kenyan youths.
Alcohol abuse among young people has become a major concern in Kenya. This often results from peer pressure and stress. Most of them abuse alcohol with the aim of forgetting their troubles unaware of the harmful effects.
Mwangi Kimari, a student at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and a youth member of the Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD), shared his inspiring journey from alcohol addiction to advocacy.
As someone who has experienced the allure of alcohol first-hand, Mwangi understands the challenges young people face. For him, his alcohol addiction was due to bad company and stress.
“I used to drink alcohol but I stopped in August 2023. The peer pressure from friends lured me into alcohol abuse,” he shared. “In some cases, I used to drink out of stress; alcohol became my escape route. I was only fascinated by the drink but not the consequences. I believe these are some of the main reasons and challenges youths face when abusing alcohol.”
He highlighted some of the programs their organization is working on to combat alcohol abuse among young people. Alcohol taxation is one of the major programs they currently are implementing. They are working tirelessly to ensure that the government listens to their call and increases alcohol taxes.
“SCAD is working on several programs, including Alcohol Taxation. We have had a couple of meetings to discuss getting the government’s attention to increase taxes on Alcohol products. Although it has been quite an uphill task, we remain positive that it will come to pass,” he stated.
In addition to taxation advocacy, the organization offers life skills programs in basic learning institutions to equip students with essential skills that will protect them from alcohol abuse.
He emphasized the importance of these initiatives, noting the programs focus on reducing alcohol and substance use among the youth. The organisation empowers youth annually through their Artbeat project to create awareness of the effects of substance abuse and to also support one another through their healing journey.
“We provide life skills training that provides learners with coping mechanisms, social skills, decision-making, and drug refusal techniques. This aims to reduce the risk of alcohol and drug use initiation. We also host the Artbeat project, an annual performing arts event hosted to create awareness about dangers of substance abuse and to support each other’s sobriety journey,” Mwangi noted.
His success story is a testament to the positive impact of SCAD. According to him, joining the organization not only helped him to quit drinking but inspired his peers to do the same.
“Your peers can also change. Ever since my friends heard that I joined SCAD and stopped drinking alcohol, they all stopped as well. One should not isolate him/herself from the friends that drink, you can also speak to them and show them good reasons to stop drinking,” shared Mwangi.
Mwangi stressed the urgent need for policy reform regarding alcohol taxation and advertising, saying that the restriction on persons under the age of 18 is not enough; hence, more policies should be implemented.
“These days, alcohol is advertised everywhere, showcasing the good vibes without addressing the negative effects. Saying it’s restricted for persons under age 18′ isn’t enough,” he stated.
He recalled his childhood period when they had educational programs about alcohol and substance abuse, stating that there are no such programs these days and alcohol companies are now sponsoring events like Heart Runs.
“When I was a kid, we had educational programs about alcohol and drug abuse in schools. Now, no one is stepping up, while alcohol companies sponsor events like the Heart Runs, sending mixed messages about consumption,” said Mwangi.
Mwangi firmly believes in personal responsibility, advising his peers to take full responsibility for their drinking habits and refrain from alcohol abuse.
“There is no such thing as being an addict; if you remove the benefit, you’re just a person with good judgment. You can stop if you want to,” he urged.
Through his advocacy, Mwangi seeks to inspire the community to make informed choices regarding alcohol, highlighting the importance of awareness and education for a healthier future. He is not just a survivor; he is a beacon of hope for others, proving that with support and awareness, young people can break free from the cycle of alcohol abuse.
Support Services from Rehabilitation Centers
Alcohol dependence is not just a habit but a brain disease that affects people in various ways, especially the young generation. While some individuals manage to maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol, others find themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, struggling to regain control.
Addressing this, Jane Mwangi, a Certified Addiction Professional, Mediator, and Founder of Willing Way Wellness Centre, outlined some of the comprehensive therapies and support systems that her rehabilitation center offers to its clients. These therapies include individual, group, and family therapy.
“Our center offers individual, group, and family therapy,” Jane stated. “Individual therapy consists of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which helps an individual to identify the triggers of alcohol use and helps develop coping mechanisms for the client. Motivational Interviewing encourages individual self-reflection and the individual to take ownership of his recovery. Psycho-education assists clients in understanding the effects of alcohol from a psychological, physical, and social perspective. Additionally, Trauma Therapy addresses any past trauma that may contribute to their addiction.”
For family therapy, the center engages the entire family, educating them on the effects of alcohol and the kind of support services their affected member requires. This therapy also helps in identifying unresolved issues which might be the cause of the addiction. Group therapy encourages peer support through shared experiences.
“In family therapy, the family is taught about the effects of alcohol and the kind of support system an individual needs during his recovery journey. It strengthens their communication, addressing issues within the family, especially if some unresolved issues or conflicts could be influencing the individual to drink. Group therapy enables the clients to share their experiences and offer support to each other,” said Jane.
Despite these therapeutic options, rehabilitation centers face significant challenges as individuals find it difficult to recognize alcohol as a brain disease, causing them to remain in denial about their issues. They might also use alcohol to self-medicate themselves due to mental health struggles, making it difficult to treat them.
“It is hard for an individual to accept that alcohol is a brain disease and that it can affect other body organs. Most of them live in denial about their problem and they don’t perceive alcohol use as an issue. Mental Health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, contribute to their alcohol dependence making it difficult to treat since they often self-medicate themselves using alcohol,” Jane explained.
Trauma, Physical withdrawal symptoms, negative social influences, and a fear of societal judgment further hinder recovery efforts.
“Trauma, Physical health challenges, negative social and environmental influences, fear of being judged by the family and the society in the event of a lapse discourages the client from seeking help. The client could also be struggling with low self-esteem, guilt, and shame making it hard for the client to engage in therapy,” she added.
Economic barriers, particularly high treatment costs in private rehabilitation centers, and cultural stigmas add to the problem. Additionally, the shortage of trained staff in addiction care affects the quality of services provided in the centers.
“Treatment is quite expensive especially here in Kenya as most rehabilitation centers are privately owned thus making it difficult for most clients to seek treatment. Cultural barriers and lack of enough trained staff also are part of the challenges faced at treatment facilities,” Jane stated.
Jane shared some of the success stories that she has been able to observe with some of her patients. She noted that two of her clients completed their treatment and are now owning their businesses and advocating against alcohol abuse among young people.
“We have a client who completed his treatment and currently is running a butchery business and is also supporting a group of youth who are trying to stop abusing alcohol. Another client has started a hotel business and has been able to start mpesa and clothes business for the spouse,” she shared.
She further stressed the importance of family in the patient’s treatment journey, noting that their involvement provides emotional and social support which speeds up the recovery of the client and can also assist in uncovering hidden issues that might have triggered them to start drinking.
“Family involvement plays a huge role as it’s usually the support system for the client. They provide emotional and social support which significantly enhances the recovery process of the individual. Sometimes, family dynamics contribute to the development of alcoholism, and addressing these dynamics through family therapy can help uncover and resolve the underlying issues,” said Jane.
She underscored how the stigma surrounding addiction has affected young people’s willingness to seek help in rehabilitation centers. The fear of being called names because of their drinking habits and the fear of being discriminated against by their peers, families, and societies hinders these young people from seeking help and ending alcohol addiction.
“Stigma and fear of being labeled bad names hinder their willingness to seek help for treatment. Stereotyping matters related to addiction, and fear of being discriminated against by their peers, family, and society can hold them from seeking help. Viewing addiction as a moral failure can also be a hindrance to their recovery,” she explained.
Jane called for the creation of safe spaces to enable youths to discuss the effects of substance use without fear of being judged. The safe spaces would also provide a platform for encouraging the affected youths to seek help without fearing what others would say.
“Creating safe spaces where young people can discuss substance use without fear of judgment and addressing stigma can encourage them to seek help for addiction and lead to better health outcomes and recovery rates,” she urged.
NACADA’s efforts in Combating Alcohol among Youth
Policymakers from NACADA have also joined forces to address alcohol abuse among youth in Kenya.
Kirwa Lelei, Deputy Director, Planning and Performance Management at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), highlighted several strategies currently being implemented to address alcohol consumption among young people. These strategies include restrictions on alcohol availability, restricting alcohol advertisement, and ensuring that those struggling with addiction get proper treatments.
“One key approach involves limiting the number of alcohol outlets in specific areas, making it harder for young people to access these substances. Restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotion have also been prioritized to reduce exposure, especially among impressionable audiences. Another critical intervention is ensuring access to treatment for those struggling with addiction by providing screening, brief interventions, and specialized care,” shared Lelei.
Lelei added that they are also implementing prevention programs such as the use of Life Skills Training (LST) in school to educate the students on how to resist alcohol allure and the social skills needed to enable them to plan for a future free of risky behaviors.
“We are also Implementing prevention programs such as using Life Skills Training (LST) programs to teach drug resistance and social skills to school students to plan a future free of risky behaviors,” said Lelei.
NACADA is also working closely with the Ministry of Education to incorporate alcohol abuse education into the school curriculum, ensuring that students are well-informed about the dangers of substance abuse at an early age.
“We are incorporating alcohol abuse education into the school curriculum through the Ministry of Education to ensure that these students understand the dangers of alcohol at an early age,” he added.
He stated that they are implementing measures such as setting blood alcohol concentration limits, promoting sobriety checkpoints, and enforcing license suspensions so as to address drinking-driving issues.
“As an organization, we are also enforcing drink-driving countermeasures by setting a blood alcohol concentration limit, promoting sobriety checkpoints, and suspending driver’s licenses,” said Lelei.
Alcohol taxation has also emerged as a critical tool in reducing alcohol consumption among young people. Lelei emphasized the importance of raising taxes on alcoholic beverages to prevent youths from consuming a lot of alcohol, mentioning disposable income and the demand elasticity for alcohol as factors that can modify the impact of tax increases.
“We are establishing a system for taxing alcohol and regularly reviewing prices to make alcoholic beverages less accessible and affordable to the youths. Many studies have found that increasing alcohol taxes is associated with reduced alcohol consumption among underage populations. Factors that can modify the impact of a tax increase include disposable income and the demand elasticity for alcohol,” noted Lelei.
According to Lelei, several challenges hinder the implementation of stricter alcohol regulations. These challenges include; Poor enforcement of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act and the presence of counterfeit alcohol, packaged in brand names of popular alcoholic drinks.
“The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act is reported to be poorly enforced, challenging its intended result. Additionally, there is a rise in the presence of counterfeit alcohol, packaged in brand names of popular alcoholic drinks,” Lelei highlighted.
He underscored that devolution has turned alcohol licensing into a revenue-generating function for county governments rather than a control mechanism. Porous borders and unchecked immigration also contribute to the influx of illicit alcohol, worsening the problem. The rise of online sales and home delivery of alcohol has added another layer of complexity, making it harder to regulate access.
Further, he shared that they are working to involve local communities in their interventions, emphasizing the importance of developing evidence-based policies and programs that modify risk factors associated with alcohol abuse.
“Local communities are being involved in promoting and facilitating the development, adoption, and implementation of evidence-based policy and program interventions that seek to modify and mitigate key risk and protective factors,” he noted.
The communities are also involved in strengthening early identification, screening, and referral services, strengthening community policing efforts to enhance control, alongside the engagement of community health promoters who work closely with local populations to implement prevention measures.
“We are also involving them in strengthening services for early identification, screening, brief interventions, and referrals. Strengthening community policing for effective control of alcohol and drug abuse and the story engagement of community health promoters to develop, adopt, coordinate and implement evidence-based interventions on the prevention of alcohol, and drugs,” said Lelei.
He explained the importance of involving young people, who have unique insights into the attitudes and behaviors of their peers. These collaborations include partnerships with groups such as the Kenya Girl Guides Association, boda boda leadership teams, matatu owners’ associations, and youth organizations in schools, universities, and religious institutions.
“Young people offer essential perspectives as they are embedded in youth culture and have first-hand knowledge of the attitudes and behaviors of their peers. We have partnered with groups such as the Kenya Girl Guides Association, boda boda leadership teams, matatu owners’ associations, and youth organizations in schools, universities, and religious institutions to assist combat alcohol consumption,” he said.
