Drug abuse among young people in Kenya is a deeply troubling and steadily growing public health concern.
This alarming trend not only threatens the physical and mental well-being of individuals, but also has far-reaching consequences for families, schools, and society as a whole. "I started using drugs in Form Two during the school closures brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic," recalls Elkannah Koroso, now 21. "It was bhang," he adds quietly.
Elkannah's story is far from isolated.
According to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), more than 500,000 young Kenyans between the ages of 15 and 24 are currently grappling with substance use disorders.
