NAIROBI -- Five broad social causes account for substance use and eventually substance abuse by the youth. Chief among them is the fact that law enforcement agents do not curb illegal substances use with some police officers colluding with the peddlers or even peddling the drugs themselves. Frustration arising from lack of school fees, and boredom resulting from want of gainful employment lead some youth to substance use under the illusion that those who use or abuse drugs will become bold, confident or courageous. [continues 770 words]
Nairobi John Mwangi loves the Nairobi Central Business District. The 21-year-old street "boy" loves the place because he does not have to go to the residential estates to get his daily needs. Up to that point, Mwangi is right because Nairobi, like all cities, needs to be self sufficient in order to cater for its residents. The only difference is that the daily needs Mwangi has access to without going to the residential estates are mainly alcohol, inhalants, drugs and other substances that he abuses and is perpetually inebriated as he goes about his chores of rummaging through heaps of waste in Kirinyaga, Kijabe and River roads. [continues 1466 words]
Nairobi - About 92 per cent of youths have experimented with a variety of narcotics, says Kaguthi An assortment of hard drugs recovered from traffickers in Nairobi. Drug abuse is widespread in learning institutions. It was business as usual for traders in Isiolo on Moi Day. There were no public festivities related to the holiday and the traders did not expect anything untoward. But the tranquil atmosphere was broken by a drunken mob which began looting, scrambling for alcoholic beverages, urinating and vomiting on the shop verandahs. [continues 416 words]
