Kenya's drug crisis deepens as Coast region battles 34% addiction rates

Kenya marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa County. The event highlighted the growing concern of substance abuse, particularly among young people, with easy access to drugs like Muguka, Bhang, and miraa cited as major factors. The Coast region faces a severe drug abuse problem, with a prevalence rate of 29.3%. Mombasa County has the highest rate in Kenya at 34.4%, meaning more than one in three residents uses at least one drug. Nationally, an estimated 4.7 million Kenyans aged 15 to 65 are currently using drugs.

To tackle the issue, stakeholders called for a whole-of-society approach, combining law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) is already using wastewater analysis to track drug consumption patterns in near real-time. The government also pledged to step up efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country. The event underscored the urgent need for coordinated action to protect young people from addiction. Authorities aim to use data-driven methods and stricter enforcement to reduce drug abuse and its impact on communities.