Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jun 2005
Source: Daily Nation (Kenya)
Copyright: 2005 Nation Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/Today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/868

UN BOOSTS KENYA'S WAR ON DRUGS

Nairobi

The United Nations has set aside about Sh76 million this year for the fight
against drug abuse in Kenya.

Drug abuse and HIV/Aids African adviser Reychad Abdool said in Nakuru
yesterday that part of the money was released in January under the Strategy
Framework Programme.

Recent UN research carried out in Nakuru district, Dr Abdool said, had shown
a steady rise in the use of heroine, especially by the youth.

He said many abusers in Africa were contracting HIV, the Aids-causing virus,
because of sharing syringes with infected people.

He cited South Africa and Mozambique as examples of countries where abuse
was on the increase. Others are Senegal, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria,
Egypt, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, he added.

"Most people in Africa engage in drug abuse due to poverty, high-level
stress and peer pressure," he said. 
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