The Government has vowed to continue fighting the drug menace which has robbed the life of many in the country, through eradication crop substitution and introducing alternative development programmes.
Speaking during the launch of the International Conference on Drug Demand Reduction, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr. Fred Matiang’i said,Kenya has adopted a strategy that seeks to address both the supply and demand for drugs in conformity to the three international conventions on drug control.
“We are taking action against drug trafficking by increased cooperation between national police and customs authorities and by confiscating the assets of traffickers improving treatment and rehabilitation for the victims of drug abuse; working closely with both the international and local media, we can do more to deter, through advertising and publicity, on the lines of our own drug prevention publicity campaign,” said the CS.
He added that surveys conducted by NACADA reveal that drug abuse is rampant in both our primary and secondary Schools. “It’s a global tragedy, associated with all social evils including: disease, corruption, violence, crime, breaking up families destroying young lives among others,” he said.
The CS further noted that Kenya will also be calling for enhanced international cooperation and increased allocation of resources for the campaign for a world free from trafficking and use of illicit and controlled drugs.
The CS also requested for support from the family unit and the community and reiterated the critical role they play in treatment and rehabilitation for those who have become dependent on drugs.
In November, the Government launched the Kenya Coast Service as one of the means to curb drug and human trafficking.
During the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem in April 2016, the Government declared its official position on access to controlled substances including narcotics.
Do you think the government will manage to curb drug abuse?