What the government can do to curb drug, substance abuse

By Robert Mutasi

The fastest way of killing today's youths and future generations is by exposing them to drug abuse and substances.

For any nation that wants to save youths and protect future generations, they should stage war against drug abuse.

Drug abuse paralyzes everything, not manpower,not health, not economic growth, not tranquility in the society.

In Kenya, drug abuse has been one of the long term wars that gave NACADA, government and other stakeholders a long way to deal with the surging cases.

The most affected and targeted groups of people who fall victims of drug abuse are youths and teenagers.

The measures and means that the government has been using for so long are not bearing fruits.

It is high time for the government to change the tune that will bear fruits on time and curb the rising cases.

The biggest mistake the government always makes is by focusing too much on curbing the consumers of drug abuse through arresting them.

And yet the cases keep rising every now and then. Instead, the government should put more effort into dealing with drug peddlers and dealers from within and beyond the country.

These are the main viruses that are killing our young people in general, they are operating underground.

Once the government stops them , it will be difficult for drugs to reach the grassroots. Another thing the government should do which is very very important is to also deal with suppliers.

Those who supply drugs to drug sellers. Through closing the porous borders and inspecting people in the borders and arresting the suspect.

Investing much in intelligence institutions by funding them and creating special panels to deal with drug abuse,this will provide first hand information about drug users,dealers and areas drugs are coming from.

In addition, enacting restricted laws that will help to regulate the supply of drug abuse in the country. Government to work closer with educational institutions to curb the cases.

The school will report those selling drugs within the school. This is simply because the majority of young people are still in school and the majority of them are affected by abuse perhaps through peer pressure and other related factors.

Report from NACADA indicates that in every 6 people in Kenya that are between 15 to 65 years of age, are currently using at least one drug.

One in every 3 males and 1 in every 16 females are using at least one of them using one drug.

According to the NACADA, Western region had the highest prevalence of current use of at least one drug or substance of abuse [ 26.4%] followed by Eastern [20.7%] and Nairobi [19.1%].