National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Wednesday, disclosed a list of places from where school children as young as four years old abuse drugs from.
In the survey report, named Status of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Primary School Pupils in Kenya, 2019, most common sources of drugs used by school children are kiosks or shops and bars near schools, their friends and school workers.
NACADA also highlighted that pupils were most likely to use drugs on their way home from school, during school holidays, during weekends and during inter-school competitions.
The report further revealed that pupils from families where one or both parents/guardians use drugs or substances of abuse were more likely to use the same.
Also more likely to use drugs were pupils with knowledge of a friend or schoolmate using drugs or those who accompany parents to events where alcohol or any drug is being served.
According to NACADA Chair Julius Githinji, the survey covered 3307 pupils from 177 primary schools across 25 counties in the country and was conducted in conjunction with the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA).
It also revealed that at least 17 percent of pupils in primary schools are using one drug or substance of abuse.
NACADA has therefore called for proper sensitization against drug and substance abuse in primary schools and enforcement of laws and prevention policies.
According to Citizen, Interior Ministry Principal Administrative Secretary Kangethe Thuku on Wednesday called for concerted efforts in the war against drugs, saying that prescription drugs are becoming popular among school-going students.
He further issued a directive to all Regional Coordinators to ensure that any alcoholic drink joints accommodating minors should be dealt with, no bar should be 300 meters near a school, and that no alcoholic joints should be within residential areas.
Thuku also ordered them to ensure no kiosks should be near school fences as he schools heads to partner with NACADA in fighting drug abuse and parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are watching.
