City Schools Intensify Anti-Drug Awareness Among Learners

In response to increasing reports of substance abuse among students, Nairobi schools have ramped up anti‑drug education efforts across learning institutions. The initiative, led in collaboration with NACADA (National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse), focuses on sensitizing learners, teachers, and parents about the risks of drug use. Education officials are mobilizing school‑based programs to highlight prevention, early detection, and the importance of counseling.
This surge in awareness activities follows alarming findings that suggest many learners begin experimenting with substances as early as 13 years old. The Ministry of Education and NACADA have developed and released new guidelines—titled the National Guidelines for Alcohol and Substance Use Prevention and Management in Basic Education Institutions—to help schools implement structured interventions. These include age‑appropriate drug education curricula, capacity building for teachers, and systems to support students at risk.
The impact of drug abuse on education is already being felt. Research by Zizi Afrique Foundation reports that substance abuse is significantly hindering secondary school transition rates in Nairobi and other regions. On top of that, learners at a recent children’s conference in Nairobi appealed to the government to shield them from exposure to drugs not only within schools but also from points of sale around them. In response, policymakers are pushing for collaborative prevention strategies involving parents, school leadership, and community stakeholders.
Looking ahead, NACADA has committed to rolling out more intensive drug‑abuse education, counselling, and peer‑mentoring programs across Nairobi schools. Authorities have also issued stern warnings to peddlers who target students, calling for stricter enforcement of drug‑control laws near educational institutions.With these measures, city leaders hope to curb drug-related indiscipline in schools and safeguard the well‑being and academic future of Nairobi’s youth.