IN SUMMARY
- Alcohol remains the most abused substance in Kenya
- Drug users have resorted to the use of veterinary drugs to boost euphoria from heroin use
- Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022
New report by Nacada shows that the average age category of initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat,
Cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16-20yrs
However the minimum age of initiation for tobacco was 6years, alcohol (7 years), cannabis (8years) Khat ( 9 years ) heroin (18 years) and cocaine (20years)
Severe Substance use disorder (addiction) among the population aged 15-65yrs in Kenya currently
- One in every 20 Kenyans aged 15-65years are addicted to alcohol
- One in every 30 Kenyans aged 15-65years are addicted to tobacco
- One in every 125 Kenyans aged 15-65years are addicted to khat
- One in every 111Kenyans aged 15-65years are addicted to Cannabis
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Rate of addiction
47.7% of current users of cannabis are addcited to cannabis use
42.4% of current users of alcohol are addicted to alcohol use
38.8% of current users of tobacco are addicted to tobacco use
22.2% of current users of khat are addicted to khat use
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Xylazine use in Mombasa
A recent report from the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse –NACADA shows that there is no evidence of fentanyl use in the coastal region as it emerges that drug users have resorted to the use of veterinary drugs to boost euphoria from heroin use.
NACADA recommends that with the emerging evidence of non-medicinal veterinary drugs, the Kenya Veterinary Board needs to institute measures to regulate and control the diversion of such drugs into the illegal market including consideration for scheduling of xylazine and other vet drugs prone to abuse.