A new report by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed that one in every two university students in Kenya has used drugs or substances of abuse at some point in their lives.
The report, titled Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya, highlights alcohol as the most commonly used substance, with a prevalence rate of 40.5%. It is followed by cigarettes at 13.4% and shisha at 10.9%.
According to the findings, alcohol is also the most readily available substance, with 87.3% of students reporting easy access. Other widely available 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 narcotic drugs, 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 a growing variety of cannabis edibles, including weed cookies, mabuyu, lollipops, and juice.
Sources and Distribution Channels
The study found that the primary source of drugs for university students is their friends (66.4%), followed by canteens, bars, or premises near universities (59.3%), fellow students (56.0%), online purchases through websites and social media (39.4%), and vendors operating within university premises (28.0%). Alarmingly, 11.4% of students reported obtaining drugs from non-teaching staff, while 7.0% cited lecturers or teaching staff as sources.
The study also uncovered that some students are actively involved in the supply and sale of drugs, with increasing use of online platforms to promote and distribute drugs within university environments.
Universities have adopted various strategies to address drug abuse, 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.
The report notes that students caught in possession of drugs often face different disciplinary actions, including guidance and counseling, peer counseling, referrals to rehabilitation, warnings, suspensions, parental involvement, expulsions, or even arrests.
While alcohol, tobacco, khat, and cannabis remain the most commonly used substances, the report warns of an increasing penetration of new psychoactive substances in universities. These include methamphetamine, prescription drugs, codeine syrup, ecstasy, LSD, ketamine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
Additionally, the study reveals a worrying trend in the use of novel tobacco products. One in 17 students is using vape or e-cigarettes, one in 24 is using nicotine pouches, and one in 22 is using shisha—despite its ban in Kenya.