A new survey has laid bare the drug-abuse crisis in Kenyan universities, with students increasingly abusing bhang and other hard drugs through edibles such as cookies, mabuyu, lollipops, and juice.
The survey report, which highlights the worrisome, creative ways substances are being introduced into comrades’ daily lives, reveals that female students are catching up with their male counterparts in substance abuse.
At the same time, the report on the status of drugs and substance use among university students in Kenya shows that alcohol, tobacco, bhang, miraa and even emerging substances like methamphetamine and codeine syrup are finding their way into the lives of varsity students.
The study conducted by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) paints a worrying picture of the prevalence of drug and substance abuse among university students.
“Findings revealed that smoked cannabis (bhang) was the most (61.7 per cent) available narcotic drug followed by cannabis edibles (47.6 per cent), cocaine (15.1 per cent) and heroin (14.3 per cent),” the report released in Nairobi on Thursday says of the availability of narcotic drugs.
“Results from the focus group discussions targeting university students identified multiple cannabis edibles ranging from weed cookies, weed mabuyu, weed lollipops and weed juice.”
This, as the report raised concerns over an emerging gradual penetration of new psychoactive substances on campuses— particularly methamphetamine, prescription drugs, codeine syrup, ecstasy/ GHB/ LSD/ psychedelics, and ketamine.
Rolls of bhang.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“The study showed that prescription drugs were the most (13.9 per cent) available psychoactive substances followed by inhalants (13.1 per cent), codeine/cough syrups (11.5 per cent), methamphetamine (8.5 per cent), ecstasy/GHB/LSD/Psychedelics (8.1 per cent) and ketamine (7 per cent),” the survey revealed.
“Morphine, a potent opioid used for management of severe pain, was reported as an emerging substance of abuse [among students].”
The national study also unearthed an alarming extent of depressive disorders among students, with approximating that one in every 17 comrades (5.8 per cent) suffering from moderately severe depressive disorders, and one in 29 (3.5 per cent) experiencing severe depressive disorders.
A depressive disorder, such as depression, is a mental illness that can cause a persistent low mood, loss of interest, and changes in sleep and appetite
The survey also found that female students are showing a higher prevalence of both moderately severe (6.4 per cent) and severe depressive disorders (4.1 per cent) compared to their male counterparts, at 5.2 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.
Additionally, the study found slight variations between private and public university students, with students in private universities exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence of moderately severe (6.2 per cent) and severe depressive disorders (3.8 per cent) compared to their peers in public universities, whose rates stood at 5.5 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively.
“One in every 5 university students had used alcohol in the past month. One in every five male students and one in every six female students had used alcohol in the past month,” the report observed, where the past-month (current) use refers to a student who had ever used a drug or substance of abuse within the last 30 days prior to the interview.
The journey to staying alcohol-free may take time, and it is likely to be challenging.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
“One in every four students in private universities and one in every six students in public universities had used alcohol in the past month.”
The study conducted from December 2023 to December 2024 covered both public and private universities across the country, with a total of 17 universities participating.
These included Daystar, Pwani, Mount Kenya, Dedan Kimathi, Africa Nazarene, Masinde Muliro, Catholic, Laikipia, Moi and Kenyatta University.
Also surveyed were Kisii University, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), University of Nairobi, Chuka University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, and the United States International University (USIU).
A total of 15,678 respondents comprising undergraduate students from both public and private universities across the country were interviewed translating to a response rate of 99.7 per cent.
The students, the researchers said, were almost evenly distributed across the years of study where 26.9 per cent were first years, 24.3 per cent second years, 23.8 per cent third years and 24.2 per cent in their fourth year and above.
On the extent of alcohol addiction, the report established that “one in every 12 university students (8.7 per cent) had severe addiction”.
The survey also established that “one in every 10 male students (accounting for 10.5 per cent) and one in every 15 female students (accounting for 6.5 per cent) had severe addiction” while “one in every 11 students in public universities (accounting for 9.5 per cent) and 1 in every 12 students in private universities (8.3 per cent) had severe addiction.”
According to the study, alcohol was the most accessible substance on campus, with 87.3 per cent availability, followed by cigarettes (64.4 per cent), shisha (41.2 per cent), vape/e-cigarettes (31 per cent), nicotine pouches (30.7 per cent), kuber (23 per cent), and snuff or chewed tobacco (22.1 per cent).
Furthermore, the study found that peer influence was the leading factor driving drug use, cited by 66.4 per cent of respondents.
This was followed by access to canteens, bars, or premises in the institution’s neighbourhood (59.3 per cent), influence from fellow students within the institution (56 per cent), online purchases via websites or social media (39.4 per cent), canteens or bars within the institution (28 per cent), support or non-teaching staff (11.4 per cent), and lecturers or teaching staff (7per cent).
While one in every two university students (accounting for 40.5 per cent) had consumed alcohol at some point in their lives, the report says, one in every five students (20.4 per cent) had used at least one type of tobacco product.
Specifically, one in every seven students (making up for 13.4 per cent) reported having ever smoked cigarettes, while one in every nine (10.9 per cent) had used shisha in their lifetime.
According to the report, lifetime use refers to a student who had ever used a drug or substance of abuse in their life.
The data further indicated that one in every 12 university students had tried vaping or e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, one in every 22 students had used nicotine pouches, and one in every 24 reported having used snuff or chewed tobacco products at some point.
Additionally, the study highlighted that less common forms of tobacco use also had some prevalence among university students. For instance, one in every 29 students (3.5 per cent) had used kuber in their lifetime.
“Data analysis showed that guidance and counselling services was the most common intervention available to address drug and substance abuse (DSA) among university students followed by awareness talks on DSA, peer counselling, policy on drug free environment within the institution, sensitization programmes on DSA, sobriety clubs on prevention of DSA, referral to treatment and rehabilitation services and random checks for DSA,” the report says.
“The environment within the universities and the neighbourhoods were not drug-free spaces with evidence showing an increased availability and accessibility for DSA, especially alcohol, tobacco, khat, and cannabis”
On risk factors and consequences of Drug and Substance Use (DSU) the survey observed that “The major risk factors for DSU included having an influencer such as a girlfriend or boyfriend or role model using DSA, inability to cope with stress or stressful situations, unresolved trauma due to childhood domestic violence, Gender Based Violence or bereavement, not being actively involved in a religious group, and involvement in gambling or betting.”
“The study also showed that DSU was associated with the failure of students to sit for examinations or continuous assessment tests, missing classes or lectures, and involvement in disciplinary issues with lecturers or the institution,” observed the survey.
