Doctors Caution Against Rising Drug and Substance Abuse

Health professionals in Kenya are raising deep concerns about the growing crisis of drug and substance abuse, warning that addiction is increasingly compromising not only individual health but also broader community well‑being. According to the Ministry of Health, a nationwide sensitization campaign launched in early 2025 has revealed that 4.7 million Kenyans are using substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and more harmful drugs — a number that underscores the urgent need for intervention.
Medical experts, including clinical practitioners and mental health specialists, are calling for stronger systems to detect and treat substance use disorders. Dr. Andrew Toro, Head of Drugs and Substance Abuse Control at the Ministry of Health, recently said the prevalence is rising, particularly among youth, and urged healthcare workers to be better trained to recognize and handle addiction. He added that multi-agency collaboration is critical, involving not just health services but also community leaders and law enforcement to address both supply and demand.
Adding to the alarm, a new study of Kenyan healthcare professionals found that more than half (51.7%) have used addictive substances in their lifetime, including cannabis, opioids, alcohol, and sedatives. The research suggests that stress, burnout, and easy access to prescription drugs may be driving substance use among doctors, with potentially serious implications for both their health and patient safety.
On the policy front, the government is responding: the Social Health Insurance Fund (Taifa Care) is being expanded to cover rehabilitation services for drug addiction. Meanwhile, NACADA and other agencies are intensifying public education efforts, pushing for prevention programs in communities, churches, and schools, and calling for tighter enforcement of laws against drug production and distribution.