Nacada has called for stringent measures to address drugs and substance abuse in Northeastern.
Vice chairperson Ann Mathu said there is need to have synergy among partners to stop the drugs from getting into the country.
“As we are all aware, the border is very porous and we have drugs coming in very easily. We also have some officers who are compromised. We need to enhance surveillance and partner with police and the anti narcotic department. This will make it very difficult for the drug barons to transport the commodities,” she said.
“As much as we put the users in police cells and prisons and continue sparing the drug barons, I don’t think we are doing much.”
Mathu said information sharing is very critical to ensure the vice is curbed.
A report released by Nacada shows out of 10 people, seven are likely to abuse drugs.
It said bhang and heroin, which are among the commonly abused drugs, come from Ethiopia.
Others are miraa and muguka. Drugs such as diazepam, alprazolam, rohypnol, midazolam, benylin with codeine and amitriptyline are also abused.
Mawera Mungani, a senior deputy secretary in the State Department of Public Health, said addiction is not just a social problem but a health problem too, hence the intensive campaigns.
“Our call for action as a ministry and the government is that we must shun all types of addictions,” he said.
Mungani said among other strategies the ministry will deploy include establishment of rehabilitation centres in level 5 hospitals to help curb the vice.
