By Henry Owino
Nairobi, Kenya: Western Region leads in drugs and substance abuse among the eight regions in Kenya. The most abused drug in the region is traditional liquor popularly known as busaa which has been legalized in the region.
Other drugs abused in the regions include chang’aa,a traditional brew spirit, popular in Kenya made by fermentation and distillation from grains like millet, maize, and sorghum, and potable spirits which are cheaper and readily available. The majority of those who abuse the substance are young men aged between 25-35.
Every region had at least one prominent drug or substance that residents use: Western alcohol, Eastern khat, Nairobi-cannabis, Central tobacco, Nyanza alcohol, Coast multiple drug use, Rift Valley alcohol, and North Eastern Khat.
However, in general, the Western region had the highest prevalence use of at least one drug or substance of abuse at 26.4% followed by Eastern at 20.7% and Nairobi at 19.1%. So, Western region residents’ use is leading if the cluster samples are collated.
This is according to a report launched by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). It is a national survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022, conducted to assess the new trends indicators.
Victor Okioma, Chief Executive Officer, NACADA said the study is a follow-up to the 2007,2012, and 2017 five-year surveys on DSU. It is used as an evaluation tool to assess the effectiveness of drugs and substance use demand and supply reduction implemented in the last 5 years.
“The findings of this survey are used to inform evidence-based policies and programs for the next 5-year programming phase,” Okioma explained.
According to Okioma, this was a 2022 national survey that used a cross-sectional study design to provide reliable estimates to track the national, regional, urban and rural drugs and substance indicators. It was conducted in selected clusters spread across 47 counties in the country and that is how this survey report captured every region.
“We realized that every region has its dominant DSU but with overall percentage accumulation, Western region tops the list. It is regrettable every region specializes in at least one drug or substance as an introduction into others in neighboring regions,” Okioma reveals.
The report further shows tobacco products, alcohol, and khat had the highest overall awareness at 97 percent, 95 percent, and 88 percent respectively. The study sampled Kenyans aged between 15 to 65 years.
It, therefore, reveals that 1 in every 6 Kenyans aged 15-65 (4,733,152) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. Again, 1 in every 3 males aged 15-65 (3,783,854) and 1 in every 16 females (949,298) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. So, most men are abusing drugs compared to women.
Initiation age for DSU and region dominance
The report shows that the average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine, and heroin was between 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).
Alcohol is the most abused substance across the eight regions. For instance, one in 8 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (3,199,119) were currently using alcohol.
While 1 in every 5 males aged 15-65 years (2,511,763) and 1 in every 20 females (687,356) were currently using alcohol.
Overall, the Western region had the highest prevalence of current use of alcohol (23.8%) followed by the Coast (13.9%) and Central (12.8%).
Nairobi region had the highest prevalence of manufactured legal alcohol 10.3%) followed by Central 10.0% and Eastern (8.4%).
The western region had the highest prevalence of current use of chang’aa (11.4%) followed by Nyanza (6.3%) and Rift Valley (3.6%). Again, the Western region had the highest prevalence of current use of traditional liquor (12.9%) followed by the Coast (7.4%) and Rift Valley (2.2%).
Central region had the highest prevalence of portable spirits (4.1%) followed by Coast (3.2%) and Rift Valley (3.1%).
Tobacco was the second most abused substance with 1 in every 12 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (2,305,929) currently using tobacco. One in every 6 males aged 15-65 years (2,018,655) and 1 in every 50 females (287,274) were currently using tobacco.
Central region had the highest prevalence of current use of tobacco (11.9%) followed by Coast (10.8%) and Eastern (10.7%).
Khat(miraa/muguka) was the third most abused substance with 1 in every 28 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (964.737) currently using khat. While 1 in every 14 males aged 15-65 years (856,283) and 1 in every 14 males aged 15-65 years (856,283) and 1 in every 143 females (108,454) were currently using khat.
Eastern region had the highest prevalence of current use of khat (9.6%) followed by North Eastern (7.2%) and Nairobi (4.9%).
Cannabis was fourth on the list with 1 in every 53 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (518,807) currently using cannabis. Then, 1 in every 26 males aged 15-65 years (475,770) and 1 in every 333 females (43,037) were currently using cannabis.
The number of people currently using cannabis has increased by 90% in the last 5 years.
Nairobi region had the highest prevalence of current use of cannabis (6.3%) followed by Nyanza (2.4%) and Coast (1.9%).
Prescription drugs was the fifth most abused with 1 in every 500 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (60,407) currently using prescription drugs. One in every 500 males aged 15-65 years (18,567) and 1 in every 333 females (41,840) were currently using prescription drugs.
Polydrugs / multiple drugs are the sixth most abused 1 in every 15 Kenyans aged 15-65 years (1,766,583) were currently using multiple drugs. One in every 8 males aged 15-65 years (1,576,405) and 1 in every 77 females (188,177) were currently using multiple drugs.
The coast region had the highest prevalence of multiple drug use (10.5%) followed by Nairobi (8.4%) and Central (7.8%).
The report now leaves NACADA with a lot of work of ensuring that relevant enforcement agencies such as county governments and in collaboration with faith-based organizations, scale up joint efforts to control the production, distribution, sale, and consumption of illicit brews among others.
