Nyeri: The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has initiated a countywide road show to address the increasing cases of alcohol and substance abuse in Nyeri. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers associated with drug and substance abuse among the local population.
According to Kenya News Agency, Caroline Kahiu, the Senior NACADA coordinator for the county, announced during the flagging-off ceremony at the Central Regional headquarters in Nyeri that the caravan will travel across the eight sub-counties. The road show will engage with community members on the issues of drug and substance abuse, encouraging them to have open conversations and make use of the toll-free line, 1192, for immediate interventions and connections to professional help.
The road show targets 25 institutions of higher learning and includes a special outreach for primary and secondary school children attending the Central Kenya Agricultural Society of Kenya show. Ms. Kahiu highlighted the findings from a recent NACADA survey, which revealed that the age of initiation into drug use is as young as seven years. She emphasized the critical need for increased sensitization about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse in educational institutions.
Nyeri County Commissioner, Ronald Mwiwawi, noted that the road show provides residents and youth an opportunity for direct interaction with NACADA experts to learn about the effects of drug abuse. He pointed out the prevalence of misinformation and the consumption of adulterated liquor in Central Kenya. Mwiwawi linked rising cases of moral decay, such as defilement and suicide, to drug abuse, specifically mentioning the impact of bhang on users’ judgment.
The County Commissioner also discussed the efforts made by the county security committee in collaboration with other government agencies to curb the consumption and sale of illicit brews. He highlighted the issue of ethanol proliferation and assured residents of ongoing efforts to eliminate adulterated liquor from the county. Mwiwawi warned unscrupulous businessmen involved in the trade of drugs and illicit brews in satellite towns that they will be pursued as part of the sustained campaign to ensure the safety of Nyeri’s residents.
