This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 26, 2020, the National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) marked the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Idada) 2020, highlighting the growing threat of alcohol and drug abuse in the country.
Nacada Board of Directors Chairperson Mabel Imbuga emphasized the need for collective efforts to address the issue, citing the upsurge in online liquor sales as a major challenge. She noted that this trend exposes the youth to the risk of alcohol abuse, as they easily access the commodity through online outlets.
According to a national survey conducted by Nacada in 2017, alcohol was cited as the most used substance of abuse, with 12.2% of persons aged 15-65 being active consumers of the commodity. The survey also found that alcohol use contributes to the highest burden of substance use disorders (SUDs), with 10.4% of the population aged between 15 and 65 years being addicted to it.
Among school-going children, the situation is grim, with 20.2% of primary school pupils having ever used at least one substance of abuse in their lifetime, according to a national survey on primary schools conducted in 2019.
Nacada Chief Executive Officer Victor Okioma called for collective efforts in regulating the sale of liquor to the youth via online platforms, highlighting the ease with which youngsters can order alcohol online and pick it up from anywhere away from their homes.
