A new study by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed that friends are the leading source of drugs among university students in Kenya.
According to the report, titled Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya, 66.4% of students who use drugs obtain them from their friends.
The report also highlights other key sources, including canteens, bars, and premises near universities, which account for 59.3% of drug access.
Within institutions, fellow students play a significant role, supplying drugs to 56% of users, while online purchases through websites and social media account for 39.4%.
Additionally, canteens and bars within university premises contribute 28.0%, with non-teaching staff (11.4%) and lecturers or teaching staff (7.0%) also cited as suppliers.
The study found that one in every 10 female university students (9.6%) and one in every nine male students (11.7%) had used cannabis in the past month.
Overall, 10.7% of university students had consumed at least one type of cannabis within the same period. The findings further indicate that cannabis use is slightly higher in private universities (11.9%) compared to public universities (10.2%).
The report also sheds light on the various forms of cannabis consumption among students. One in every 12 students (8.4%) had smoked cannabis, while another 8.2% had consumed cannabis edibles, including weed cookies, mabuyu, lollipops, and cannabis-infused juice.
Beyond cannabis, the study highlights a worrying increase in the use of hard drugs. It reports that one in every 59 university students (1.7%) had used heroin, while one in every 63 students (1.6%) had used cocaine. These figures indicate that hard drug use, though lower than cannabis consumption, is gradually becoming a serious concern in institutions of higher learning.
The study also found that half of all university students in Kenya had used drugs or substances of abuse at some point in their lives. Alcohol remains the most commonly used substance, with a prevalence rate of 40.5%, followed by cigarettes (13.4%) and shisha (10.9%).
The report emphasizes the accessibility of drugs, which has significantly contributed to the rising trend of substance abuse. Alcohol is the most easily available substance, with 87.3% of students saying they can obtain it without difficulty. Other widely accessible substances include cigarettes (64.4%), shisha (41.2%), vape or e-cigarettes (31.0%), nicotine pouches (30.7%), kuber (23.0%), and snuff or chewed tobacco (22.1%).
Among narcotics, smoked cannabis is the most accessible (61.7%), followed by cannabis edibles (47.6%), cocaine (15.1%), and heroin (14.3%). The report also highlights the growing popularity of new psychoactive substances, including methamphetamine, prescription drugs, codeine syrup, ecstasy, LSD, ketamine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
Universities have implemented various strategies to curb drug use, with guidance and counseling being the most common intervention. Other measures include awareness campaigns, peer counseling, enforcement of drug-free policies, sensitization programs, sobriety clubs, referrals to rehabilitation centers, and random drug checks.
Students caught in possession of drugs face disciplinary action, ranging from counseling and peer support to suspensions, parental involvement, expulsions, and even legal action. However, despite these interventions, the report warns that drug availability within universities and surrounding areas continues to rise, posing a significant threat to students’ well-being.
The increasing use of online platforms for drug distribution further complicates efforts to combat substance abuse. NACADA has called for stronger enforcement measures and collaboration between universities, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers to address the crisis and safeguard the future of students.
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